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Jay Kay Klein photographs and papers on science fiction fandom
MS 381
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Title: Jay Kay Klein photographs and papers on science fiction fandom
Date (inclusive): 1931-2011, undated
Date (bulk): 1950-2000
Collection Number: MS 381
Creator:
Klein, Jay Kay
Extent:
66 linear feet
(81 boxes, 9 flat file folders, 1 rolled item tube)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
Abstract: This collection is primarily comprised of photographs, negatives, and slides taken by Jay Kay Klein as he documented Science
Fiction & Fantasy fandom over the course of 50 plus years. The majority of images were taken by Klein while attending Science
Fiction & Fantasy conventions and events. Additional material include Klein's correspondence with notable Science Fiction
& Fantasy authors, editors, publishers, and fans; material related to his personal and professional life; and his personal
collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy fanzines, convention programs, and progress reports.
Languages: The collection is in English.
This collection is open for research.
Copyright for a portion of materials in the collection has been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries,
Special Collections & University Archives. Additional materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright
Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Please contact Special Collections & University Archives for more information.
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Jay Kay Klein photographs and papers on science fiction fandom (MS 381). Special
Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.
Gift of the estate of Jay Kay Klein, 2012.
Processed by Andrew Lippert, Special Collections Processing Archivist, in 2023. Previous descriptions were prepared by Sara
Stilley, Special Collections Preservation Assistant, in 2012.
Jay Kay Klein (1931-2012) began reading Science Fiction at a young age and joined the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society
when we has 14. He was an avid photographer and, during his lifetime, amassed an extensive photograph collection of Science
Fiction & Fantasy conventions and events. His massive repository of photographs was an invaluable resource to the community
and was in constant demand by authors, publishers, and many publications within the field. He was a regular contributor to
fanzines and maintained a regular magazine column writing short biographies for
Analaog Science Fiction and Fact. Klein's other professional work included writing and editing in corporate settings such as General Electric and Carrier
International.
Jay Kay Klein was a life long participant in Science Fiction fandom and a mainstay at conventions for decades. He was a member
of First Fandom and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). Along with his friend Dave Kyle, Klein co-chaired
the unsuccessful bid to host the 1966 Worldcon in Syracuse, NY.
Klein was recognized for his contributions to the field with the Big Heart award, the First Fandom Hall of Fame award, and
a presidential award from SFWA. He lived most of his life in Syracuse, NY and passed away in May 2012 of cancer.
One half of this collection is comprised of photographs, negatives, and slides taken by Jay Kay Klein as he documented Science
Fiction & Fantasy fandom over the course of more than 50 years. The majority of images were taken by Klein while attending
Science Fiction & Fantasy conventions and events. The other half of Klein's collection is made up of documents related to
Kleins photographic work, participation in fandom, writing and publishing, and some of his personal and professional interests.
Additional material includes Klein's correspondence with notable Science Fiction & Fantasy authors, editors, publishers, and
fellow members of science fiction fandom. He was a regular conributor to both fanzines and science fiction magazines, and
this collection includes materials documenting both of these activities. He was the co-chair of the Syracuse in '66 Worldcon
bidding committee and there are extensive materials across several series that related to the bidding efforts.
This collection is arranged into fifteen series as follows:
- Series 1. Correspondence
- Series 2. Convention Materials
- Series 3. Other Event Materials
- Series 4. Organizations
- Series 5. Works by Klein
- Series 6. Notes
- Series 7. Works by Others
- Series 8. Fanzines
- Series 9. Clippings
- Series 10. Publications
- Series 11. Business Records, Receipts, Travel Records
- Series 12. Personal
- Series 13. Realia
- Series 14. Audio Materials
- Series 15. Photographic Materials
Some of the items received with this collection have been cataloged and added to the Eaton Science Fiction & Fantasy Collection
housed in Special Collections & Archives. These items can be found in the general UCR Library catalog and have the following
note in their catalog entry: "From the Jay Kay Klein papers (Collection 381)."
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Kyle, David A. (1919-2016)
First Fandom (1959-)
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. SFWA
Congresses and conventions
Photography
Science fiction
Science fiction fans
Syracuse in '66 Worldcon Bid
Correspondence
Fanzines
Negatives (photographs)
Photographs
Slides (photographs)