Chapter 1: Historical Context and Wartime Circumstances (October-November 1943)
The 1943 Michiconference, officially designated as Michicon 3, represents a singular moment in science fiction convention history: an event that simultaneously functioned as a fannish convention and as the inauguration of one of the most legendary fan houses of all time, the Slan Shack. Held October 30 to November 1, 1943 in Battle Creek, Michigan, this gathering occurred in the most challenging context possible for fandom: in the midst of World War II, when travel restrictions, rationing, and military obligations had devastated regular fannish activities.
The timing of the event coincided precisely with the move-in of the Ashleys (Al Ashley and his wife), Jack Wiedenbeck, and Walt Liebscher to the Slan Shack, creating a unique convergence of community celebration and domestic inauguration. This coincidence was not accidental but strategic: the opening of the Slan Shack provided both the occasion and justification for gathering dispersed fans during a period when traditional conventions were practically impossible.
Al Ashley later characterized the event ambivalently, stating that “the Michicon had been canceled due to World War II and that this was just a large housewarming for the Slan Shack.” This retrospective statement illustrates the complexities of defining fannish activity during wartime, where the lines between formal and informal events necessarily blurred.
The wartime context permeated every aspect of the event, from limited attendance to logistical restrictions, but also provided cultural urgency that intensified the community significance of the gathering.
Chapter 2: The Slan Shack as Fannish Institution and Cultural Space
The Slan Shack represents one of the most influential fannish institutions of the 1940s, functioning as communal home, publishing center, and symbol of total fannish dedication. Named after A.E. van Vogt’s novel “Slan,” which had appeared in Astounding Science Fiction in 1940, the house embodied fannish identification with the persecuted telepaths of the story, reflecting the sentiment of many fans of being a misunderstood minority with special abilities.
The primary residents – Al Ashley, Jack Wiedenbeck, and Walt Liebscher – represented different aspects of fannish activity. Ashley was known for his involvement in multiple fannish organizations and his gregarious nature; Wiedenbeck brought experience in publishing and distribution; Liebscher contributed artistic and organizational expertise. This combination of talents made the Slan Shack a multifunctional hub for fannish activity.
The house operated according to communal principles pioneering in fandom, where individual resources were pooled to sustain community activities that no individual fan could maintain. This model would influence subsequent fan houses from the Futurian House in New York to the Berkeley fan houses decades later.
The location in Battle Creek provided relative accessibility for Midwest fans during wartime, when transportation was limited and expensive. The house quickly became a pilgrimage destination for fans seeking intensive community and total fannish cultural immersion.
Chapter 3: Attendance and Demographics of the Gathering
Approximately 22 people attended at some point during the weekend, a substantial figure considering wartime travel restrictions and the informal nature of the event. This attendance included prominent figures like Bob Tucker, who not only participated but publicized the event, lending legitimacy and visibility to the gathering.
Tucker’s presence was particularly significant given his status as one of the most respected and well-connected fans of the period. His decision to remain until the following Thursday (several days after the official end of the event) underscores both his personal enjoyment and recognition of the historical importance of the moment.
The demographic of attendees represented a cross-section of active wartime fandom, including both civilians and military personnel on leave. Many attendees were figures who would become influential in the post-war fandom boom, making the 1943 Michiconference a significant generational gathering.
The extended nature of the event, with people arriving and departing at different times throughout the weekend and beyond, reflects the travel constraints of the period but also the reluctance of participants to end a rare opportunity for intensive fan interaction during wartime isolation.
Chapter 4: The Degler Incident and Community Exclusion Dynamics
The encounter with Claude Degler on October 29 provides a fascinating window into fandom’s social dynamics and community self-defense mechanisms. Degler, already notorious as a schnorer (social parasite who imposes his unwelcome presence), arrived uninvited while the Ashleys were beginning their move into the Slan Shack, creating a socially awkward situation that required careful handling.
The pact among the Slan Shackers not to give Degler money reflects prior community experience with his behavior patterns. His reputation as someone who “would stay if given even a slight amount of encouragement” had preceded his arrival, allowing the hosts to prepare a coordinated response.
Al Ashley’s direct confrontation with Degler – telling him “the Conference didn’t want him” and attempting explanation when asked – represents a rare example of explicit community boundary-setting during a period when such directness was culturally unusual in fandom. The subsequent argument and Degler’s claim of having only 60 cents and no place to sleep were designed to elicit sympathy and financial support.
The Ashleys’ firm refusal to lend him anything resulted in Degler’s departure to Newcastle, Indiana, where he claimed that the Oakgrove Fantasy Society held a banquet in his honor – a likely fabrication designed to save face. His characterization of the incident as the “Ashley Atrocity” and claims of developing a bad chest cold from the trip illustrate his manipulation tactics and tendency toward victimization narratives.
Chapter 5: Intellectual Activities and Speer’s Mental Alertness Test
One of the most memorable and consequential activities of the 1943 Michiconference was Jack Speer’s administration of the George Washington University mental alertness test to multiple attendees. This event illustrates fandom’s intellectual curiosity and its ongoing fascination with intelligence and mental capacity, themes that permeated the science fiction literature of the period.
The participants’ assumption that it was an IQ test and their above-average scores generated “conjectures about genius in fandom for years to come,” according to Harry Warner. This reaction reveals both the intellectual insecurity and intellectual pride that characterized early fandom – the desire to be validated as intellectually superior combined with anxiety about such claims.
The incident established a precedent for psychological testing and self-examination within fandom that would continue in various forms for decades. The persistent discussion of the results and their implications for fannish intelligence became part of fannish folklore, contributing to a sense of intellectual elite status that would influence fannish self-perception.
Speer’s role as test administrator also illustrates his position as an intellectual figure within fandom, someone trusted to conduct such evaluations and interpret results. His later analysis of the event in various fannish publications helped establish the narrative of fannish intellectual superiority.
Chapter 6: Expressions of Faanism and Participatory Culture
The term “faanism” – obsession with fannish activity itself rather than with science fiction literature – found full expression during the 1943 Michiconference through various symbolic and participatory activities. The publication of a Science Fiction Song Sheet containing fan parodies suitable for group singing represents one of the earliest documented instances of organized fannish music culture.
These parodies and group singing activities established precedents for the eventual development of the filk music movement decades later. The creation of shared musical experiences designed specifically for fannish consumption illustrates fandom’s evolution toward a fully developed participatory culture with its own distinctive art forms.
Speer’s inflation of black balloons to commemorate the sixth anniversary of Michelism provides insight into the complex internal politics and factional disputes that characterized wartime fandom. Michelism, associated with John Michel and the Futurian movement, represented a particular approach to fannish organization and politics that had generated considerable controversy.
The symbolic nature of this commemoration – using black balloons rather than celebratory colors – suggests both irony and criticism, reflecting the complex feelings many fans had toward the various factional disputes that had fractured fandom during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Chapter 7: Intellectual Debates and Performance of Expertise
The extended disputing between Oliver Saari and Jack Speer during the event reached such intensity that it generated “talk about sponsoring a nationwide debating tour in which they would star,” according to Harry Warner. This development illustrates both fandom’s intellectual vigor and its appreciation for skilled argumentation and debate.
The topics of dispute are not recorded, but the suggestion of a nationwide tour indicates that other attendees found the debates sufficiently entertaining and intellectually stimulating to warrant broader exposure. This reaction reveals fandom’s valorization of intellectual performance and articulate disagreement as forms of entertainment and education.
The pairing of Saari and Speer as potential touring debaters also suggests recognition of their complementary skills and contrasting viewpoints. Saari, known for his systematic approach to fannish organization, and Speer, famous for his analytical and legal-minded approach to fannish politics, represented different intellectual styles that could generate productive conflict.
The concept of professional debating tours for fans indicates the level of intellectual confidence fandom had achieved by 1943, feeling that fannish discourse had reached a level of sophistication that could appeal to broader audiences.
Chapter 8: Commercial Activities and Liebscher’s Art Auction
Walt Liebscher’s auction of artwork from Gnaedinger and Palmer represents one of the earliest documented instances of organized art sales within fannish gatherings, establishing precedents for the extensive art shows and auctions that became standard features of later science fiction conventions.
Charles Gnaedinger, editor of Thrilling Wonder Stories, and Raymond Palmer, editor of Amazing Stories, were prominent professional figures whose involvement in fannish art activities illustrates the fluid boundaries between professional and fan communities during this period. The availability of their artwork for fannish auction suggests either direct participation in fan activities or at least supportive relationships with fannish culture.
Liebscher’s role as auctioneer reflects his position as one of the more commercially-minded fannish figures, someone comfortable with combining social activity with business transactions. This approach would become increasingly common as fandom matured and developed more sophisticated economic relationships.
The success of the auction (though specific proceeds aren’t recorded) demonstrated fannish willingness to financially support community activities and provided a model for future convention fundraising. The integration of art sales with social activities also established precedents for the artist alley culture that became central to modern conventions.
Chapter 9: Cultural Significance and Establishment of Precedents
The 1943 Michiconference established multiple precedents that would influence the development of fannish gathering culture for decades to come. The concept of combining housewarming with convention activities created a model for intimate, residential gatherings that complemented larger, hotel-based conventions.
The integration of testing activities, musical performance, formal debating, and art sales within a single event demonstrated fandom’s capacity for multi-faceted cultural programming. This comprehensive approach to fannish entertainment would influence the development of convention programming philosophy, showing that fannish gatherings could successfully combine intellectual, artistic, social, and commercial activities.
The event’s success during wartime also proved the resilience of fannish community and its ability to maintain cultural activities under adverse circumstances. This demonstration of commitment and adaptability helped establish fandom’s reputation for persistence and dedication that would attract new members during the post-war period.
The documentation of the event through multiple sources, including Harry Warner’s detailed accounts, established precedents for convention reporting and historical preservation that became standard practices within fannish culture.
Chapter 10: Historical Legacy and Long-term Influence
The 1943 Michiconference occupies a unique position in convention history as a bridge between the intimate, informal gatherings of early fandom and the more structured conventions of the post-war era. Its combination of residential setting, diverse programming, and community celebration created a template that influenced both fan house culture and convention planning philosophy.
The Slan Shack itself became a legendary institution partly due to its inaugural celebration during the Michiconference. The association between the house and this significant gathering helped establish its reputation as one of the most important fannish residences, attracting visitors and residents throughout the 1940s.
The intellectual activities of the event, particularly the mental alertness testing and the extended debates, contributed to fandom’s developing sense of intellectual superiority and cultural distinctiveness. These elements helped establish expectations for future gatherings that fannish events should provide intellectual stimulation along with social interaction.
The artistic and musical activities pioneered during the event established precedents that eventually evolved into major aspects of modern convention culture, from filk singing to art shows and auctions. In many ways, the 1943 Michiconference anticipated programming elements that wouldn’t become standard until decades later.
Perhaps most importantly, the event demonstrated that fannish community could maintain its cultural vitality under extreme circumstances. This proof of resilience during wartime provided confidence that carried fandom through the challenges of the immediate post-war period and established foundations for the explosive growth of the 1950s and beyond.
The 1943 Michiconference thus represents not merely a successful wartime gathering, but a crucial transition point where early fannish experimentation crystallized into enduring cultural practices that continue to influence science fiction convention culture to this day.
Sources: Harry Warner’s accounts in various fannish publications, Bob Tucker’s convention reports, Al Ashley’s retrospective comments, Jack Speer’s records, archival materials from the Slan Shack, fannish correspondence of the period.
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