Pulp research
Jul. 11th, 2002 11:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hildy89Many years ago, in a now forgotten discount bookstore called Crown Books, I found a short story collection in the remainder section. Edited by Bernard Drew, Hard Boiled Dames reprinted a dozen stories from the classic pulp period of the 1930s and 1940s featuring female characters either as detectives, adventuresses, secretaries and gun molls. The reprints included the illustrations and ads, exactly as they would have appeared in the issue.
I was interested enough to do some further research. As it happens, the Library of Congress happens to have a rather large pulp fiction collection, which was recently microfilmed. If you have a LC reader identification card, the microfilm number and some patience, you might be able to find what you need.
I decided to test that theory this evening after work, focusing on one particular title with a fairly short run.
I hit absolute paydirt with Gangster Stories. I was researching a series character named Queen Sue Carleton, a tough gun moll, written by C.B. Yorke. Hard-Boiled Dames reprinted the story "Snowbound" as a good example of the gun moll genre. The Library of Congress was only missing four issues of the entire three year run, two from the first volume and two from the last volume.
One of those missing issues may include the first appearance of Queen Sue Carleton. The magazine's letters column, "The Eaves-Dropper", includes several complimentary letters about a story from the February 1929 issue called "When Moll Meets Moll", which I could not find. There might also have been a last story in the missing final two issues, but I didn't have the LOC columns to backtrack through.
The stories I did find in Gangster Stories:
"Drag", volume 2, number 1, March 1930
"Arms and the Moll", volume 3, number 1, August 1930
"Mother of Guns", volume 4, number 1, January 1931
"Hunted", volume 4, number 3, March 1931
"Return of Queen Sue", volume 5, number 3, July 1931
"Snowbound", volume 6, number 2, October 1931
"Borrowed Time", volume 7, number 1, Jan. 1932
"Mile a Minute Racket", volume 8, number 1, May 1932
The search was a fascinating test of the LC resources. I would suggest if you plan to use this collection, here are some pieces of advice.
--Learn how to feed a microfilm reader. The attendant is in and out of the room filling requests, which can leave you sitting on your thumbs wondering how you screwed up so badly.
--Get a reader card from the Madison Building. You can't request materials from LC without one.
--If you suspect you'll do some printing, get a copy/print card.
--LC has rather strict rules now about bringing personal items into the reading rooms. You'll have to check your briefcases, oversized purses in the cloakroom.
--Learn how to search the LC catalog. You're looking the entries marked microform.
--The request slip will ask for the microfilm number and the dates you're requesting, along with your reader card id#.
--The requests usually take anywhere from 15-30 minutes. There is a pickup table where you'll find either your requests or your request sheets with NOS (not on shelf) scribbled on it.
--When in doubt, ask for help.
--Be prepared to strike out.
I was interested enough to do some further research. As it happens, the Library of Congress happens to have a rather large pulp fiction collection, which was recently microfilmed. If you have a LC reader identification card, the microfilm number and some patience, you might be able to find what you need.
I decided to test that theory this evening after work, focusing on one particular title with a fairly short run.
I hit absolute paydirt with Gangster Stories. I was researching a series character named Queen Sue Carleton, a tough gun moll, written by C.B. Yorke. Hard-Boiled Dames reprinted the story "Snowbound" as a good example of the gun moll genre. The Library of Congress was only missing four issues of the entire three year run, two from the first volume and two from the last volume.
One of those missing issues may include the first appearance of Queen Sue Carleton. The magazine's letters column, "The Eaves-Dropper", includes several complimentary letters about a story from the February 1929 issue called "When Moll Meets Moll", which I could not find. There might also have been a last story in the missing final two issues, but I didn't have the LOC columns to backtrack through.
The stories I did find in Gangster Stories:
"Drag", volume 2, number 1, March 1930
"Arms and the Moll", volume 3, number 1, August 1930
"Mother of Guns", volume 4, number 1, January 1931
"Hunted", volume 4, number 3, March 1931
"Return of Queen Sue", volume 5, number 3, July 1931
"Snowbound", volume 6, number 2, October 1931
"Borrowed Time", volume 7, number 1, Jan. 1932
"Mile a Minute Racket", volume 8, number 1, May 1932
The search was a fascinating test of the LC resources. I would suggest if you plan to use this collection, here are some pieces of advice.
--Learn how to feed a microfilm reader. The attendant is in and out of the room filling requests, which can leave you sitting on your thumbs wondering how you screwed up so badly.
--Get a reader card from the Madison Building. You can't request materials from LC without one.
--If you suspect you'll do some printing, get a copy/print card.
--LC has rather strict rules now about bringing personal items into the reading rooms. You'll have to check your briefcases, oversized purses in the cloakroom.
--Learn how to search the LC catalog. You're looking the entries marked microform.
--The request slip will ask for the microfilm number and the dates you're requesting, along with your reader card id#.
--The requests usually take anywhere from 15-30 minutes. There is a pickup table where you'll find either your requests or your request sheets with NOS (not on shelf) scribbled on it.
--When in doubt, ask for help.
--Be prepared to strike out.
