Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Ford, Donald E., 1921-1965
- Abstract:
- The collection consists of approximately 850 photographic slides, mostly of science fiction conventions, taken by well known fan Don E. Ford in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Slides in the collection depict various parts of conventions, including audiences listening to performances and speakers, dinners, discussions, and other fan gatherings.
- Extent:
- 0.83 linear feet (2 boxes)
- Language:
- The collection is in English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Don E. Ford slide collection (MS 405). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of approximately 250 stereo slides and 600 35mm slides of science fiction conventions, fans, and authors taken by Don E. Ford, mostly during the 1950s and 1960s. Slides in the collection depict various parts of conventions, including audiences listening to performances and speakers, dinners, discussions, and other fan gatherings. This conventions represented in the collection were held mainly in the Midwestern United States, with some slides from conventions held in London, Detroit, and Washington D.C. Most slides include some sort of caption written by Ford.
Materials in the collection also include some personal slides, depicting family events and trips, as well as photographs from the Cincinnati Fantasy Group.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Donald E. Ford, was born in 1921 and began reading science fiction in 1930, starting his lifelong love of the genre. He became a well-known and respected member of science fiction fandom, as a leading member of the Cincinnati Fantasy Group, a founding member of First Fandom, and the author and editor of fanzines such as POOKA. Ford was also involved in a number of science fiction conventions, chairing Cinvention in 1949 and founding the first Midwestcon in 1950.
In 1953, Ford helped found the Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund (TAFF), an organization which facilitates a competition to provide funds for well-known science fiction fans in North America and Europe to attend a major convention on the other side of the Atlantic. Ford served as the first U.S. administrator of TAFF for four years, and won the TAFF race himself in 1959, allowing him to attend the 1960 Eastercon in London.
Ford was diagnosed with cancer, and passed shortly after in April of 1965.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Serena Rodholm, Student Processing Assistant, 2018.
Processing of the Don E. Ford slide collection was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded by the UCR Library and administered by Jessica Geiser, Collections Management Librarian.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged into two series as follows:
- Series 1. Events, 1930-1964
- Series 2. Conventions, 1952-1967
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright of these records has been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the department.
- Preferred citation:
-
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Don E. Ford slide collection (MS 405). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Riverside - Special Collections and University ArchivesP.O. Box 5900Riverside, CA 92517-5900, US
- Contact:
- (951) 827-3233