2024-07-01 Guide to the Murder Can Be Fun Zine, 1986-2007 SPEC.RARE.0330 Finding aid prepared by Casey Blackmore Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2024 June This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2024-07-01T16:33-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Murder Can Be Fun Zine SPEC.RARE.0330 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.4 Cubic feet 1986-2007 John Marr is, as of 2024, a writer based in San Fransico, California. He began writing and publishing his true crime zine Murder Can Be Fun in 1986. The Murder Can Be Fun Zine collection contains a full run of the zine, a full run of the Murder Can Be Fun datebooks, and two unnumbered spin off issues. The zines cover true crime stories, natural disasters, serial killers, unusual deaths and other news items not often reported in mainstream media. Materials are dated 1986 to 2007. (1) 5" letter document box English Marr, John Arrangement of Materials

Materials are arranged by publication date.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. RARE.2024.0039: Jess Millar, 2024 April

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Murder Can Be Fun Zine, SPEC.RARE.0330, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Casey Blackmore, 2024 June; Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2024 June

 Biographical Note

John Marr is, as of 2024, a writer based in San Fransico, California. He began writing and publishing his true crime zine Murder Can Be Fun in 1986. The zine was one of the early pieces of media that covered true crime and related stories for entertainment purposes. The zine was published from 1986 until 2007.

 Scope and Contents

The Murder Can Be Fun Zine collection contains a full run of the zine, as well as a full run of the Murder Can Be Fun yearly datebooks, which list true crime events by year. The datebooks also double as planners to log daily events and appointments. Also included are two unnumbered spin off issues. The zines cover true crime stories, natural disasters, serial killers, unusual deaths and other news items not often reported in mainstream media. Also covered in the zines are reviews of other media covering true crime, including documentaries and literature. The materials are dated 1986 to 2007.

 Marr, John Fanzines Murder can be fun (Zine) Natural disasters--United States--20th century Popular culture--United States--20th century Self-publishing--United States--20th century Serial killers--United States--20th century True crime stories--United States--20th century Violence--Moral and ethical aspects--United States--20th century Zines--United States--20th century Issue #1 1 1 1986 Issue #2 1 2 1986 Issue #3 1 3 1986 Issue #4 1 4 1987 Issue #5 1 5 1987 Issue #6 1 6 1987 Issue #7 1 7 1987 Issue #8 1 8 1987 1988 Datebook 1 9 1988 Issue #9/10 1 10 1988 (Anti-) Sex Tips for Teens 1 11 1988 1989 Datebook 1 12 1989 Issue #11 1 13 1989 1990 Datebook 1 14 1990 Issue #12 1 15 1990 1991 Datebook 1 16 1991 Issue #13 1 17 1991 1992 Datebook 1 18 1992 Issue #14 1 19 1992 1993 Datebook 1 20 1993 Issue #15 1 21 1993 1994 Datebook 1 22 1994 Obscure Crime Books 1 23 1994 1995 Datebook 1 24 1995 Issue #16 1 25 1995 1996 Datebook 1 26 1996 Issue #17 1 27 1996 1997 Datebook 1 28 1997 Issue #18 1 29 1997 Issue #19 1 30 2004 Issue #20 1 31 2007