Materials are arranged chronogically.
Accession No.RARE.2025.0036: Purchased, 2024 January
[identification of item], Newsletters and Correspondence Created in St. Petersburg, Florida by Brothers Charles and Bill Heynen for their Friend “Jim” in Brooklyn, New York, SPEC.RARE.MMS.0405, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Casey Blackmore, 2025 April. Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2025 April.
Charles Everett "Chuck" Heynen and William John "Bill" and "Bool" Heynen (March 30, 1945-July 29, 2014) were brothers, possibly in middle school or high school at the time, from South Brooklyn, New York who moved to St. Peterburg, Florida in the early to mid 1950s. The brothers wrote to their friend Jim in Brooklyn, New York, who likely was around the same age as the boys (12-15 years old). As transplants to the South, Charles and Bill had to learn new social mores of living in Florida and growing accustomed to the weather. The growing interest in science and science fiction also influenced the boys in their hobbies of writing stories and attempts at creating alcohol powered jet engines.
Newsletters and Correspondence Created in St. Petersburg, Florida by Brothers Charles and Bill Heynen for their Friend “Jim” in Brooklyn, New York contains handmade newsletters and correspondence sent from brothers Charles and Bill to their friend Jim that remained in Brooklyn, New York. Charles signed his correspondence "Chuck" and Bill went by "Bool" in his correspondence. Friends of the brothers are also mentioned in a few of the newsletters, including "Billy" and "Herman," who also began newsletters and zines of their own.
In addition to correspondence, Charles and Bill created newsletters, "The Gazaboo Gazette" and "Bool's Journal," that showcased their interest in science, science fiction and engineering. The papers include the boys' documentation of what life was like in Florida, along with cartoons and drawings. The boys were also not afraid to critique each others' writing. The newsletters can be viewed as early verisons of science fiction fanzines that began to gain popularity in the 1950s, along with the creation of fanzines and friendship albums. Both the correspondence and newsletters showcase what adolescent life was like during the early to mid 1950s in the United States, with the boys' growing interest in science fiction and their own stories involving Utopian themes. Some the correspondence touches on their fascination with jet engines, including one letter that contains a diagram of the engines and how Charles will set it up. Material is dated July 20 1955-July 14 1957.