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Finding Aid
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Elliott M. Ruben Amateur Press Association Collection Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research. Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department. Copyright: Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials. Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement. Acquisition and Processing Information: The Ruben Collection was received in October 2009 from Elliott Ruben's widow Loretta Ruben of Rockville Centre, New York. The transfer was faciliated by Heath Row, now of Los Angeles, CA. The collection was processed in October-November 2009. Photographs: None |
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Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a number of different materials relating to Elliott Ruben's interests in amateur journalism ("ajay") and his membership in a number of amateur press associations ("apas").
The materials in Series I consist of 'bundles' of publications sent to apa members at regular intervals. In most apas, members submit copies of their publications to an Official Mailer (or Editor, who then collates the materials into 'bundles' and sends them to the membership so that each member has a copy of whatever publication the other members choose to print and distribute. The Ruben Collection organizes its bundles alphabetically by the name of the apa, and thereunder chronologically by the date sent. Oversize materials from each bundle have been unfolded and placed behind the smaller materials in the bundle - in folders that have bundles with oversize materials, these large and unfolded materials serve as the boundary between individual bundles. The Ruben Collection contains bundles for several apas - the Amalgamated Printers Association (APA), the American Amateur Press Association (AAPA), the National Amateur Press Association (NAPA), and the United Amateur Press Association of America (UAPA)- that cover the decades from the 1930s through the early 2000s.
Series II consists almost entirely of the official organizational publications issued by the apas listed above. Series III contains various ajay publications (zines, flyers, advertisements, handbills, and other examples of amateur printing) that arrived at the University of Iowa unattached to any particular bundle. Many of these items probably come from members of the UAPA, for which the original envelopes long since disintegrated. These items are arranged alphabetically by the title of the publication. Also contained in this series are several cooperative publications (annual anthologies of ajay items) produced by various apas.
Series IV consists of correspondence sent to Ruben from many of his friends in the ajay world, as well as official materials produced by the apas of which he was a member.
Series V contains Ruben's childhood publications, created by Ruben from the ages of 10-16.
Biographical Note
Elliott M. Ruben was born in New York on September 10, 1916. From an early age he was interested in the world of amateur printing - his earliest publication in this collection is Elliott M. Ruben's Puzzle Book, dating from 1926. Ruben was an early member of the American Amateur Printing Association, which he first joined in September 1937. He was also a member of several other nationwide amateur journalism organizations, including the National Amateur Press Association, the United Amateur Press Association of America, and the Amalgamated Printers Association.
Ruben received the 1937 AAPA Laureate Award Honorable Mention for his short story "Christmas Gift". Among his other ajay publications is the small zine Random Thoughts, which he produced for AAPA starting in 1963.
Elliott Ruben died in New York City on July 7, 2009. He was survived by his wife Loretta.
Historical Note
The term "apa" refers to an Amateur Press Association. An amateur press association is a group of like-minded people, distributed across a wide geographical area, who join together to discuss common interests using the forum of a collated series ("bundles") of individually printed publications. Apas originally came into existence in the late 19th century through the efforts of amateur journalists. However, starting in the early 20th century, apas came to be primarily associated with science fiction, fantasy, and other genre fans.
Publications in apas vary widely, and may include zines, flyers, handbills, advertisements, signs, broadsides, and virtually any other sort of printed publication one could imagine. Apa members submit copies of their publications to the apa's Official Mailer (sometimes known as a Central Mailer or an Official Editor), a rotating, often elective position. The OM collates a copy of each publication - submitted at regular intervals - and sends the resulting bundles to every apa member.
Several different apas, all structured in similar fashion, are represented in the Ruben Collection:
Amalgamated Printers Association: Originally organized in 1958 as, to quote the APA, "a hobby printers group so that members could improve their skills, expand their knowledge, and exchange samples of their letterpress work", the Amalgamated Printers Association continues today to cater to the interests of amateur printers, although professional printers are also members.
American Amateur Press Association: AAPA was founded in 1936 by a group of young printers who had become increasingly disenchanted with the leadership of the United Amateur Press Association of which they were members. They broke away in order to prevent the UAPA from becoming increasingly divided into factions, and their apa continues today. The AAPA's official organ is the American Amateur Journalist.
National Amateur Press Association: NAPA is the world's oldest apa, having been founded in Philadelphia in February 1876. Like its younger sister organizations, NAPA, which still thrives today, is dedicated to furthering and promoting the art of amateur journalism. Its official organ is the National Amateur.
United Amateur Press Association of America : The United was the second American apa to be founded, coming into existence in 1895. It was originally founded by 14-year old William H. Greenfield of Philadelphia -initially not aware of the existence of NAPA - who wanted to bring together the scattered amateur journalist clubs of which he was aware and in communication. UAPA's membership tended to be younger than NAPA's, and it served as a training ground for many writers and editors (including H.P. Lovecraft) who later joined NAPA. UAPA's official organ is the United Amateur.
Related Materials
GERINGER, LAUREN, 1908-1992. Lauren Geringer Papers, 1919-1992. 1.75 ft.
Iowa City printer and author. The bulk of the collection is comprised of monthly bundles from amateur press associations during 1990 and 1991, including the Amalgamated Printers Association, the National Amateur Press Association, and Peat's press. Items from Geringer's Press, clippings about Geringer, a miscellaneous collection of samples of printing, and several editions of his small journal, People Watcher make up the remainderof the collection. MsC 847. (Finding Aid)
HORVAT, M. The M. Horvat Collection of Genre Apazines, 1943, 1945, 1958-2002.
A collection of science fiction, fantasy, mystery and other genre "apazines" (informal publications similar to newsletters or fanzines, and published by fan groups called Amateur Press Associations, or "apas"). MsC825. (Finding Aid)
MILLER, GUY. Guy Miller Amateur Printing Collection, 1934 - 1989. 0.8 ft.
Collection of amateur print publications, most dating from the early and mid 20th century. MsC 881. (Finding Aid)
ROW, HEATH. Heath Row Amateur Press Association Collection, 1934-2010. 2.0 ft.
Zine writer and editor, and member of multiple amateur press associations. Includes apa publications, apa official organs, and assorted loose ajay publications. MsC 364. (Finding Aid)
TURNEPSEED, WILLAMETTA, 1909-1989. Papers of Burton Jay Smith and Willametta Turnepseed, 1941-1944. 0.8 ft.
Correspondence, chiefly love letters, between amateur printers Smith and Turnepseed, together with a few additional materials, including copies of their co-edited Literary Newsette. Many of Smith's letters document his activities training as a navigator in the United States Army Air Force, 1943-1944. MsC868. (Finding Aid)
Box Contents List
Series I: Apa Bundles
Amalgamated Printers Association
Box 1
May 1972 Bundle
September-November 1975 Bundles
December 1975 Bundle
January-April 1976 Bundles
May-August 1976 Bundles
September-December 1976 Bundles
January-March 1977 Bundles
April-July 1977 Bundles
August-December 1977 Bundles
January-March 1978 Bundles
April-June 1978 Bundles
July-September 1978 Bundles
October-December 1978 Bundles
July-September 1979 Bundles
October-December 1979 Bundles
January-March 1980 Bundles
Box 2
April-June 1980 Bundles
July-September 1980 Bundles
October-December 1980 Bundles
January-March 1981 Bundles
April-June 1981 Bundles
July-September 1981 Bundles
October-December 1981 Bundles
January-March 1982 Bundles
April-June 1982 Bundles
July-September 1982 Bundles
October-December 1982 Bundles
January-March 1983 Bundles
April-June 1983 Bundles
July-August 1983 Bundles
September-November 1983 Bundles
Box 3
December 1983-February 1984 Bundles
March-May 1984 Bundles
June-August 1984 Bundles
September-November 1984 Bundles
December 1984-February 1985 Bundles
March-May 1985 Bundles
June-August 1985 Bundles
September-November 1985 Bundles
December 1985-March 1986 Bundles
April-June 1986 Bundles
June (2)- September 1986 Bundles
October-December 1986 Bundles
December (2) 1986-March 1987 Bundles
April-May 1987 Bundles
July-August 1987 Bundles
Box 4
October-December 1987 Bundles
January-March 1988 Bundles
April-June 1988 Bundles
July-September 1988 Bundles
October-December 1988 Bundles
January-March 1989 Bundles
April-June 1989 Bundles
July-September 1989 Bundles
October-December 1989 Bundles
January-March 1990 Bundles
April-June 1990 Bundles
July-September 1990 Bundles
October-December 1990 Bundles
Box 5
January-March 1991 Bundles
April-June 1991 Bundles
July-September 1991 Bundles
October-December 1991 Bundles
January-March 1992 Bundles
April-June 1992 Bundles
August-September 1992 Bundles
October-December 1992 Bundles
January-March 1993 Bundles
April-June 1993 Bundles
July-September 1993 Bundles
October-December 1993 Bundles
Box 6
January-February 1994 Bundles
March-May 1994 Bundles
June-August 1994 Bundles
September-November 1994 Bundles
December 1994-March 1995 Bundles
April-June 1995 Bundles
July-September 1995 Bundles
October-December 1995 Bundles
January-March 1996 Bundles
April-June 1996 Bundles
July-September 1996 Bundles
October-December 1996 Bundles
Box 7
January-March 1997 Bundles – September-October 1999 Bundles
Box 8
November-December 1999 Bundles
American Amateur Press Association
Box 9
January-March 1939 Bundles
May 1939 Bundle
Early 1945 Bundle [Exact Month Unknown]
Early 1946 Bundle [Exact Month Unknown]
Early or Mid-1946 Bundle [Exact Month Unknown]
May 1946 - August 1946 Bundles
July 1947 – December 1948 Bundles
February 1949 Bundle
April 1949 Bundle
June 1949 Bundle
July 1949 Bundle
December 1949 Bundle
April 1961 Mailing – June 1963 Bundles
Box 10
July 1963 - January-March 1964 Bundles
April-June 1964 Bundles – January 1969 Bundle
January-March 1974 Bundles
Box 11
April-June 1974 Bundles – January-February 1978 Bundles
January-March 1979 Bundles
Box 12
April-June 1979 Bundles – April-June 1983 Bundles
Box 13
July-September 1983 Bundles – July-September 1984 Bundles
Box 14
October-December 1986 Bundles – July-September 1990 Bundles
Box 15
October-December 1990 Bundles – January-March 1994 Bundles
Box 16
April-June 1994 Bundles - July-September 1997 Bundles
Box 17
October-December 1997 – October-December 1999 Bundles
January-February 2001 Bundles
February 2009 Bundle
National Amateur Press Association
June-September 1965 – July-September 1966 Bundles
Box 18
October-December 1966 – October-November 1967 Bundles
February-March/April 1968 – October 1968 Bundles
December 1968 Bundle
January-April 1969 – November-December 1969 Bundles
January-March 1974 – January-March 1975 Bundles
Box 19
April-June 1975 – January-March 1979 Bundles
Box 20
April-June 1979 – October-December 1982 Bundles
Box 21
January-March 1983 – October-December 1986 Bundles
Box 22
January-March 1987 – October-December 1990 Bundles
Box 23
January-March 1991 – July-August 1994 Bundles
May –August 1997 Bundles
United Amateur Press Association of America
Box 24
Various Publications, 1932-1933
Various Publications, 1934 (2 folders)
May 1935 Bundle
June 1935 Bundle
November 1935 Bundle
December 1935 Bundle
Various Publications, 1935 (2 folders)
January – April 1936 Bundles
June 1936 Bundle
September 1936 Bundle
December 1936 Bundle
Various Publications, 1936
March 1937 Bundle
Box 25
June 1937 Bundle
Fall or Winter 1937 Bundle
Various Publications, 1937
March 1938 Bundle
May 1938 Bundle
August 1938 Bundle
Various Publications, 1938
January 1939 Bundle
May 1939 Bundle
January or February 1965 Bundle
Series II: Apa Official Organs
Box 26 (Issues listed by folder)
The Amateur Journalist (United Amateur Press Association of America)
October 1904
American Amateur Journalist (American Amateur Press Association)
1937-1939 (Except Sept/Oct - Nov/Dec 1938)
1940 (Except October-December), 1941-1942 (Except August-September)
1943-1944 (Except vol. 8 #2), 1945 (Except vol. 9 #6)
1946-1947, 1948 (Except vol. 12 #3)
1949 (vol. 13 #4-5), 1950 (vol. 15 #1), 1951 (vol. 16 #1)
1952 (vol. 16 #6 and vol. 17 #1), 1953 (vol. 17 #2 and #6, and vol. 18 #1), 1954 (vol. 19 #1)
1956 (September and October), 1957 (September), 1958 (September), 1959 (November/December), 1960 (#5/6 and November/December)
1961 (Except Jan/Feb and Mar/Apr), 1962-1963
1964-1967
1968-1971
1972-1973 (Except July 1973), 1974-1975
1976 (Except July), 1977 (Except January-March and November), 1978 (Except March-May and September), 1979 (Except September)
1980-1983
1984-1987
1988 (Except July), 1989-1991 (Except July-September 1991)
1992-1993, 1994 (Except March), 1995
1996-1997 (Except September 1997), 1998 (Except January and May), 1999 (Except July)
January-March 2000, January-September 2004
APA Journal (Amalgamated Printers Association)
February-April 1963, March 1964
The Fossil [Official Organ of the Alumni of Amateur Journalism]
#154 (July 1957), #158 (July 1958)
The Fossil [The Fossils, Inc., Historians of Amateur Journalism]
January 1990, July 1997, October 1997
January 1998, January-October 1999, July 2000
Fossilbed
#12 (November 1998)
National Amateur (National Amateur Press Association)
July 1914, March 1927
December 1945, December 1946, June-December 1947
September 1953, March 1954
September-December 1987, March 1988-June 1990
September 1990-September 1992
December 1992-June 1994
United Amateur (United Amateur Press Association of America)
November 1905, September 1909
June 1932-June 1936
September 1936-December 1938
August 1945, December 1945, May 1946, December 1946-September 1947
January-February, 1965, July/August-September 1967, January/February 1968
Series III: Assorted Ajay Publications
Box 27
A, c. 1937-1997
Apa Wayzgoose, 1978, 1997
B, c. 1965-1998
C - D, c. 1933-1993
E - F, c. 1963-1995
The Gator Growl [Lee Hawes, auth.] 1946-1947, 1955, 1962, 1968
The Griddle [Sheldon Wesson, ed.] 1941-1947, 1993
G - I, c. 1933-1996
Ink Cahoots [AAPA Cooperative Annual] #1 - 8 (1973-1980)
Ink Cahoots [AAPA Cooperative Annual] #9 - 16 (1981-1988)
Ink Cahoots [AAPA Cooperative Annual] #18 - 25 (1990-1997)
Ink Cahoots [AAPA Cooperative Annual] #26 - 29 (1998-2001), #33 - 34 (2005-2006)
It's A Small World [Cooperative Annual] #3 - 7 (1957-1961)
It's A Small World [Cooperative Annual] #9 - 14 (1963-1968)
It's A Small World [Cooperative Annual] #15 - 20 (1969-1974)
It's A Small World [Cooperative Annual] #21 - 26 (1975-1980)
It's A Small World [Cooperative Annual] #27 - 32 (1981-1986)
It's A Small World [Cooperative Annual] #33 - 37 (1987-1991)
It's A Small World [Cooperative Annual] #38 - 41 (1992-1995)
J - L, c. 1942-2000
M, c. 1937-1999
N - O, c. 1933-1993
P - R, c. 1933-1999
Siamese Standpipe [Sheldon and Helen Wesson, auth.] #1 - 5 (April-October 1942), #7 - 10 (April-September 1943)
Siamese Standpipe [Sheldon and Helen Wesson, auth.] #11 - 19 (Fall 1943-August 1947)
Siamese Standpipe [Sheldon and Helen Wesson, auth.] #24 - 25 (Autumn-Christmas 1953), #27 - 28 (Spring-May 1954)
Box 28
Siamese Standpipe [Sheldon and Helen Wesson, auth.] #30 - 31 (September-Christmas 1954), #35 - 37 (Christmas 1955-July 1957)
Siamese Standpipe [Sheldon and Helen Wesson, auth.] #38 - 39 (Christmas 1957-February 1958), #41 (September 1961)
S, c.1945-1987
Treasure Gems [Amalgamated Printers Association Cooperative Annual] #5 - 9 (1975-1979)
Treasure Gems [Amalgamated Printers Association Cooperative Annual] #10 - 14 (1980-1984)
Treasure Gems [Amalgamated Printers Association Cooperative Annual] #15 - 16 (1985-1986), #18 - 19 (1988-1989)
Treasure Gems [Amalgamated Printers Association Cooperative Annual] #20 (1990), #24 (1994), #27 - 28 (1997-1998)
Box 29
T - V, c. 1946-1981
W - Y, c. 1950-1959
Assorted Printed Products, various dates (3 folders)
Series IV: Correspondence and Official Apa Material
Box 30
Ballots - AAPA, 1962, 180-1995
Conference Tag - AAPA, 1964
Correspondence, 1933-1957
Correspondence, 1958-1964
Correspondence, 1965-1998
Correspondence, no date
Correspondence, Official - AAPA, 1949-1981
Correspondence, Official - Other Apas, 1937, 1967-1968, n.d.
Documents, Official - AAPA, 1962-1973
Series V: Elliott M. Ruben's Childhood Publications
Box 1
The Amateur Journalist: Volume 1:1 – 4 (April, October-December 1932), 1:5-6 (January, March 1933), Volume 2:1-2 (July-August 1933)
The Vigorous Boy #1 (August 1932)
Box 2
Baseball Score Book (April 1928)
Current Inventions Volume 1:1 (August 1927)
Current Science Volume 1:2 (September 1927)
Elliot M. Ruben’s Puzzle Book Volumes 2, 4 (n.d.), 5-8 (1926), 9 (n.d.)
Flight Bulletins Volume 1 (1927)
The Journalistic News Volumes 1-2 (September 1932), 3-4 (November-December 1932)
Laugh A Bit: A New Joke Magazine Volume 1:1 (July 1927)
The Path for Boys Volume 1:1-12 (February 1927-January 1928), Semi-Annual #1(June 1928), Volume 2:1-5 (July 1928-November 1928), Path for Boys Quarterly Volume 1:1 (Winter 1928)
Radio Broadcast Volume 1:1 (August 1930), 1:3-4 (January 1931-February 1931), Volume 2:1-2 (September 1931), 2:3 (October 1931)
Radio Program Weekly Volume 1:1-12(April 1930-July 1930), Volume 2:1 (July 1930), 2:3 (July 1930), “Volume 1:2” (September 1930)
“Skippy”, by Percy L. Crosby Volume 1:1 (December, no year given)
Talkies Volume 1:2-3 (September 16-23, 1928)
Television Quarterly Volume 1:1 (Summer 1928)