Nimoyan-Spock's Scribes

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Fan Club
Name: Nimoyan-Spock's Scribes
Dates: May 7, 1967 to the early 1970s
Founder(s): Sarah Cornelie "Sam" Cole
Leadership:
Country based in:
Focus: Star Trek: TOS
External Links:
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certificate printed in LNNAF Yearbook (1968)

Nimoyan-Spock's Scribes were two Star Trek: TOS fan clubs founded and run by Sarah Cornelie "Sam" Cole.

"Spock's Scribes" was created first, in May 1967. "The Nimoyan Scribes" was created in 1970. They merged in 1974 when it became apparent that members wanted to be in both clubs anyway.

Both clubs were official affiliates of the Leonard Nimoy National Association of Fans. Both had a number of publications, featuring articles, fan fiction, poetry, stream of consciousness writing and art.

In 1976, it had 150 members.

The club's core membership consisted of Sam Cole and a group of schoolgirls from the Grand Prairie, Texas area, with input from Karen Flanery. They called themselves "Sam and the Locos".

Sam Cole believed that behind all the fun and satire, the clubs served an educational purpose in that members would learn the elements of writing.

People who volunteered for the club were called Nimoy's Nuts.

Publications

A 1967 Description

From LNNAF Journal #2:

SPOCK'S SCRIBES, prexied by S. Cornelie Cole of Grand Prairie, Texas. This active little group wound up being featured in a small write-up in the Grand Prairie Daily News...Prairie Scope column written by Melissa Estes, on Aug. 14, 1967 as follows:

"The Daily News recently received a letter from Mrs. S. Cornelie Cole, president of the Spock's Scribes Chapter of the Leonard Nimoy National Association of Fans. [You remember Mr. Spock — he's the handsome Vulcan on STAR TREK.J Anyhow, the club has already sponsored one letter-writing contest on behalf of Nimoy and is now engaged in a UNICEF drive. UNICEF is Nimoy's favorite charity and Spock's Scribes are selling notepaper called "Joy of Sharing" and "It's a Small World" to raise money for the charity. They are planning another letter-writing contest in September or October, but right now are open for new members. Anyone interested in becoming a Spock's Scribe is urged to contact Mrs. Cole at [address redacted]. She also has information and applications for the Leonard Nimoy National Association of Fans."
I think that this is just wonderful - having their group publicized like this and do appreciate "Sam's" having brought this clipping to my attention. An active group run by a great gal.

Some History

From Introduction to the Nimoyan & Spock's Scribes:

Among those in that generation was a 39-year old semi-invalid S. Cornelie Cole, "Sam". It took her three visits to this other world to really know this man called Spock, but know him she did, and in April of 1967 she joined a thing called a 'fan club'. Upon joining, Sam decided she could snare five unsuspecting friends and family members and thus win a record for bringing five new-members into the then LNNAF. The new members saw Sam's pictures and cried, "How do we get pictures of Mr. Spock?" Sam said. "Write letters" and with those innocent beginings, the germs of the Spock's Scribes were planted.... Sam got more members to make seven, and Peggye Vickers, then president of the LNNAF, said, "Sam, you are a club!"...

Due to age and space, the Scribes split into sub-groups which met at different times. The Spock's Sprites were girls 5-11. The Locos were girls 14-15. And the Sensors were boy 6-12, with Sam's son Alan as leader. What did they do? Attend meetings, drink gallons of Dr Pepper, eat tons of Fritos, and write letters. The Sprites made a scrapbook of the things they wrote, drew, and colored, to be sent to Mr. Spock, and the Sensors collected scientific things, both fact and fiction, connected with the show....

And the Scribes grew, no one knows for sure how, but by the time cancellation was threatened again, there were many to send out letters of protest, this time to fail to save Star Trek. But they did succeed in reminding the networks that Leonard Nimoy was a man with a following. He was called in from the cold of cancellation to unpack his make-up kit and become Paris for Mission; Impossible for the next two years.

With this, Sam decided to give the members a choice, according to their own loyalties and interests, and split the club into the Spock's 'Scribes, and the Nimoyan Scribes. Thus, she gave the members a choice. By this time, the clubs were so large, that Sam's health got to be the price, and duties were delegated to the Vice-President, Secretary- Treasurer, and Area Captains. She still was able to write her delightful stories, and edit the material, but no longer had to worry about all the details. By the Spring of 1974, it became apparant that more than 95% of the membership wanted to be in both clubs anyway, so they were rejoined into one, The Nimoyan/Spock's Scribes. And the publication schedule changed. Now there is a publication to members every two months, instead of every three as before.

Why Two Clubs, Then One Club?

Spock's Scribes... is the oldest of the two. We started in May of 1967 and began publishing in Nov. 1967. Naturally, we were Spock oriented as you can tell by the name, but Leonard Nimoy always had the spotlight on him. When word of the cancelling [of Star Trek] came out, I split my June Issue in two parts and made two journals — one STAR TREK fiction, and the other strictly Nimoy as possible with the material on hand. I repeated this double issue in Nov.-Dec. and announced the new club, "The Nimoyan Scribes" as an official LNAF chapter in 1970. Peggye Vickers and I had discussed the split club idea of mine with me and wholeheartedly approved as did Louise when she took over for Peggye.

You still can't see why two clubs? Well neither could some of my members until I explained.

Leonard Nimoy is important to me as an actor, a fellow human being; a man of conviction, and to me, one of the greatest talents in the business. I can express my feelings on him, my gratitude to him and discuss him with others through fan publications - ergo - I must have a Nimoy club.

Science-Fiction is important to me because I write it. STAR TREK blew my mind. I haven't begun to write all my ST stories yet, and I have to write, I HAVE to. So it would be pretty dumb to drop Spock Scribes, and then turn around and put out ST zines. I keep my affiliation with the LNAF so I can print current info on Leonard Nimoy as to records, appearances, etc.

Why affiliate? It is important to me that Leonard Nimoy is aware that among his affiliated Official Chapters of the LNAF, there are "The Nimoyan Scribes" and "The Spock Scribes." [1]

Some Mainstream Press Attention

From the Grand Prairie Daily News, August 14, 1967:

The Daily News recently received a letter from Mrs. S. Cornelie Cole, president of the Spock's Scribes Chapter of the Leonard Nimoy National Association of Fans. (You remember Mr. Spock -- he's the handsome Vulcan on "Star Trek") Anyhow, the club has already sponsored one letter-writing contest on behalf of Nimoy and is now engaged in a Unicef drive. Unicef is Nimoy 's favorite charity and Spock's Scribes are selling notepaper called ' "Joy of Sharing" and "It's a Small World" to raise money for the charity. They are planning another letter writing contest in September or October, but right now are open for new members. Anyone interested in becoming a Spock's Scribe is urged to contact Mrs. Cole at 314 S.E. 14th. She also has information and applications for the Leonard Nimoy National Association of Fans.[2]

A correction on August 18, 1967:

Monday's scope included an item about the Spock's Scribes Chapter of the Leonard Nimoy National Association of Fans. President of the chapter is Mrs. S. Cornelie Cole, whose address was given incorrectly. The correct address is 314 SE 14th St., and anyone interested in becoming a Spock's Scribe is urged to contact Mrs. Cole there.[3]

Club Duties

From Introduction to the Nimoyan & Spock's Scribes:

  • Intronimoyspock-1.jpg
  • Intronimoyspock-2.jpg
  • Intronimoyspock-3.jpg

From the Introduction Booklet: Personas

In the club's introduction booklet, Introduction to the Spock's Scribes: A Different Star Trek Fan Club, Sam Cole explained that the Locos wanted to create stories in which they were brought aboard the Enterprise and caused trouble. When they asked her for help, she suggested that they write themselves in as relatives of the officers who were being transported between schools on different planets.

See Once Upon a Star Trek.

  • Samantha Scott was the daughter of Amelia Grayson (Amanda's twin sister) and research scientist James Scott (no relation to Montgomery). She was born on XX Larid where her parents had gone to rescue a dying race of humanoids. James and his wife were killed in an accident and Samantha was raised by the natives for three years, then brought to the research complex where she was adopted by Kit McCoy, Leonard's sister, as a companion to her adopted daughter Kelley. Appearing to be physically and emotionally retarded, Samantha was actually a true telepath who loved "all" and would "unravel the knots" of people who were angry or frightened. When Kelley came aboard the Enterprise, Samantha sneaked aboard and hid in the air vents. "She did every ridiculous thing you can imagine without rhyme or reason." She also read and memorized every tape on the ship, hoping to be able to understand their meaning later. Samantha was played by Sam Cole.
  • Kelley McCoy is also an orphan. She is a brilliant student who wants to be a doctor like her uncle Leonard. She has been a mother to Samantha. She often originates the wild ideas and plans for the group's antics on board. Kelley was played by Susan Le Vasseur.
  • Keenah Chekov is Pavel Chekov's sister. She wants to be a spy and makes it her business to know the hiding places and secrets of everyone on the ship. She is prone to crushes on men but is painfully shy. Generally cheerful and optimistic, she often planned hijinks with Samantha. Keenah was played by the late Keenah Dunn.
  • Tess Chekov is Chekov's third cousin. She considers herself a hippie-type free spirit, but she might like to be a psychologist and wants to "solve" Samantha. Tess was played by Linda Miller.
  • Willdalayne Storn was the daughter of Storn, Ambassador Sarek's brother, and a Romulan scientist. They had married during a tentative alliance between the Romulans and the Federation. When this fell apart both her parents were killed and she was adopted by Sarek. She is motivated by anger and hostility but also by intense curiosity. As she hates both Vulcans (except for Sarek, whom she now respects) and Romulans she desires to model herself after Earth people. "Billie" was played by Debbie Kuhn.
  • Yeoman Judy Kirk is Captain Kirk's niece. She believes she was assigned to the Enterprise because of her uncle, but he wasn't even aware she had joined Starfleet. She is a versatile thinker who has been assigned to numerous departments. Judy was played by Melody Jordan.
  • Akiko Sulu is Mr. Sulu's sister. They were born and raised in Hawaii. She is an artist. She wants to join Starfleet but thinks this will not be possible due to her less than exemplary schoolwork. She is a gentle person who can "be seen with anyone". Aki was played by Rebecca Odle.
  • Cass Scott is a distant cousin of Montgomery. She has a lot of engineering talent but little training. She takes things apart all the time and the girls bring "unfixable" items to her. She is fascinated by Samantha and will often engage in antics with Kelley or Keenah. Cass was played by Debbie Morrison.

References

  1. ^ from Sam Cole in the 1969/70 LNAF Yearbook
  2. ^ Grand Prairie Daily News, August 14, 1967
  3. ^ Grand Prairie Daily News, August 18, 1967
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