Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Sam Moskowitz Collection
Date(s)
- 1931-2016; Undated (Creation)
Extent
48 boxes
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sam Moskowitz was born June 30, 1920, in Newark, N. J. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II. He worked in the wholesale food industry for most of his life, but maintained a literary career also. He was a literary agent and science fiction magazine editor, and was very active in the science fiction fan communities. Among others, he was a member of the Science Fiction League, Fantasy Amateur Press Association, First Fandom, Science Fiction Writers of America, Eastern Science Fiction Association and others. His activity was rewarded by a special plaque from the 13th World Science Fiction Convention in 1955 for his history of fan life, The Immortal Storm, the Big Heart Award for contributions to Science Fiction, and was named to the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame in 1979.
Moskowitz was one of the founders of the World Science Fiction Convention, now in its 64th year. He was one of the first, if not the first, to lecture on science fiction to a University class.
Moskowitz was widely recognized as the leading amateur historian of science fiction and fantasy during his lifetime. He wrote many articles in the science fiction magazines, about science fiction and individual authors. In many cases, those were collected into book form later. Moskowitz was also a prolific letter-writer, communicating with many fanzines with comments, corrections of information published in the fanzines, or short articles on the field.
His historical treatments of science fiction and fantasy include The Immortal Storm: A History of Science Fiction (1954); Explorers of the Infinite: Shapers of Science Fiction (1963); Seekers of Tomorrow: Masters of Science Fiction (1966); and Science Fiction in Old San Francisco (1980), and may other titles. Moskowitz frequently published his history and criticism in The Fantasy Commentator, a highly regarded amateur magazine. His final completed book, a history of John W. Campbell, will appear in that magazine beginning in 2006.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The Sam Moskowitz collection consists of his research files, correspondence, manuscripts, many of his books, and working documents related to his study of the history of science fiction and fantasy. Drafts of two unpublished books are included.
System of arrangement
This collection is organized into 8 series. The papers are arranged as they were held in the Moskowitz collection, as detailed in the finding guide.
Series 1. Biographical and Photographic Files - Moskowitz, 1939-1980; Undated
Series 2. Manuscripts - Moskowitz, 1856-1994; Undated
Series 3. Correspondence - Moskowitz, 1944-1997; Undated
Series 4. Published Files - Moskowitz, 1947-1998; Undated
Series 5. Book Reviews - Moskowitz, Undated
Series 6. Magazines - Moskowitz, 1990-1996; Undated
Series 7. Miscellaneous Moskowitz Files, Undated
Series 8. Subject Files - Moskowitz
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Physical access
These materials are stored offsite and require additional time for retrieval.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
The Moskowitz Collection came to Cushing Library from Sam Moskowitz' widow, Christine (Haycock) Moskowitz, who gave his research files to Hal W. Hall. The files were what remained of Moskowitz' papers after an auction, at which most of his books, magazines, fanzines, and art were sold off. The card file in which Moskowitz recorded payments made to contributors for Weird Tales was thrown away by his widow.
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Cushing Library also holds the Robert Silverberg - Sam Moskowitz Correspondence Collection, a collection of 7 letters sent from Silverberg to Moskowitz between 1951-1968. The finding aid is here at: https://findingaids.library.tamu.edu/index.php/robert-silverberg-sam-moskowitz-correspondence-collection
The First Fandom Foundation (https://www.firstfandom.org/) holds a small collection of Moskowitz material that had been 'rescued' from neglect by Joe Wrzos. The collection contains some correspondence and a number of Moskowitz's works of fiction in various states of development, as well as newspaper clippings and magazine excerpts.
Related descriptions
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Sources used
Archivist's note
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