Friend Book

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Synonyms: F.B.
See also: Slam Book
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"Friend Books" were used by pre-teens and teens in the 1970s and 1980s as a way of finding other like-minded fans in the pre-Internet era.

Unlike the dreaded "slam books" which began circulating in the US in the 1940s, these books were not used to bully,[1][2][3] but as a means of connecting with other fans.

Some "friend books" were sized small enough to fit into an international envelope (2-3 inches), and consisted of no more than a few pages. The covers could be pages cut from magazines or advertisements and were stapled or taped into a booklet shape. Many were multi-fandom, but some focused on single fandoms like Star Wars. Sometimes general questions were included, such as "Who is your favorite member of the Rolling Stones?"

Fans would write their name and address and list their interests. Fans offered to trade articles and photos on things that another friend liked (or collected on) IN RETURN for items related to their interests. In order for a fan to get what they wanted, they had to include them in the the F.B. before sending it on. The book would then pass along to the next fan. When the booklet was filled it was to be returned by mail to the original fan or the person who the F.B. was made for.

These booklets might have original artwork, messages or fannish address labels in its pages.

Sample Gallery

Below is a sample of images from some late 1970s "Friend Books" that were obtained from an estate sale in Anaheim, California in 2016.

  • a group of friend book pages

    a group of friend book pages

  • from a friend book with a geographic focus of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim

    from a friend book with a geographic focus of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim

  • from a friend book with a geographic focus of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim

    from a friend book with a geographic focus of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim

  • from a friend book with a focus of the "Bee Gees"

    from a friend book with a focus of the "Bee Gees"

  • from a friend book with a focus of the "Star Wars"

    from a friend book with a focus of the "Star Wars"

  • from a friend book with a focus of the "Bee Gees"

    from a friend book with a focus of the "Bee Gees"

  • from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars"

    from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars"

  • from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars", the survey question "How many times have you seen Star Wars" and below it are answers from each person

    from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars", the survey question "How many times have you seen Star Wars" and below it are answers from each person

  • from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars", "Favorite [Star Wars] character?"

    from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars", "Favorite [Star Wars] character?"

  • from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars", a [Star Wars] scene you do not like

    from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars", a [Star Wars] scene you do not like

  • from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars", "is look as innocent as he looks or is Leia in trouble>" (this friend book may have started circulating before it was revealed that Luke and Leia were twins.

    from a friend book with a focus of "Star Wars", "is look as innocent as he looks or is Leia in trouble>" (this friend book may have started circulating before it was revealed that Luke and Leia were twins.

Tracing The Path of Brian's Friend Book

  • "Hi Brian" - the Friend Book is ca. 2.5 x 2 inches folded paper with a single staple. It is undated, but probably was circulated in the late 1970s.

    "Hi Brian" - the Friend Book is ca. 2.5 x 2 inches folded paper with a single staple. It is undated, but probably was circulated in the late 1970s.

  • Brian lived in Arizona. The Friend Book was created by Cathy - her address was not recorded, perhaps because the book was intended to be returned to him. It is numbered "FB4" for "Friend Book 4"

    Brian lived in Arizona. The Friend Book was created by Cathy - her address was not recorded, perhaps because the book was intended to be returned to him. It is numbered "FB4" for "Friend Book 4"

  • The book first went to Laurie who lived in Clay, New York. She writes: "Anxious to hear from other Trekkers! Trade film clips, photos. I ans[wer] all. Peace." The circled 18 may indicate she is 18 years old.

    The book first went to Laurie who lived in Clay, New York. She writes: "Anxious to hear from other Trekkers! Trade film clips, photos. I ans[wer] all. Peace." The circled 18 may indicate she is 18 years old.

  • Ellen in Nazareth, Pennsylvania had specific requests: "Answer only people who like: ST, Star Wars, Logan's Run, Star Maidens, Rush, Bowie, Moody Blues, [actor] Sal Mineo." She adds that she has a "Collection [of] Sal [Mineo] items [and ] will trade stuff on current stars." Her friend Teresa wrote more simply: Tolkien, Sal Mineo."

    Ellen in Nazareth, Pennsylvania had specific requests: "Answer only people who like: ST, Star Wars, Logan's Run, Star Maidens, Rush, Bowie, Moody Blues, [actor] Sal Mineo." She adds that she has a "Collection [of] Sal [Mineo] items [and ] will trade stuff on current stars." Her friend Teresa wrote more simply: Tolkien, Sal Mineo."

  • Up next was Lori who was attending college in Jacksonville, Illinois: She liked actors "Sal Mineo, Harrison Ford, Rodney McDowall (sic)." On her page she also wrote "NNP". Bethy in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania had a "Collection [of] Wm Shatner, Star Trek and Rodney McDowell."

    Up next was Lori who was attending college in Jacksonville, Illinois: She liked actors "Sal Mineo, Harrison Ford, Rodney McDowall (sic)." On her page she also wrote "NNP". Bethy in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania had a "Collection [of] Wm Shatner, Star Trek and Rodney McDowell."

  • On the final page of Brain's Friend Book, Deborah in Bethesda, Maryland wanted people to know she had a "{I] Collect on Man From Atlantis, Patrick Duffy and Star Wars." Linda from Perryburg, Ohio made it clear that she loved: "Harrison Ford, Dirk Benedict, Man From Atlantis.....Or Any Corellian In A Port."

    On the final page of Brain's Friend Book, Deborah in Bethesda, Maryland wanted people to know she had a "{I] Collect on Man From Atlantis, Patrick Duffy and Star Wars." Linda from Perryburg, Ohio made it clear that she loved: "Harrison Ford, Dirk Benedict, Man From Atlantis.....Or Any Corellian In A Port."

References

  1. ^ Sam Oglesby - Before Facebook bullying, there was the dreaded slam book, Archived version
  2. ^ Buzzfeed: This Slam Book Says Everything You Need To Know About '80s Teens, Archived version
  3. ^ How to Make a Slam Book: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow, Archived version
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