Baldwin, F[ranklin] Lee

   (1913–1987).

   Weird fiction fan and correspondent of HPL (1933–36). Baldwin first wrote HPL in the fall of 1933 proposing to issue “The Colour out of Space” as a booklet. HPL revised the tale slightly for the prospective publication, but the plan never materialized. In early 1934 HPL put Baldwin in touch with Duane W.Rimel, who by coincidence lived in the same small town (Asotin, Washington). The two took turns reading HPL’s letters to each of them. Baldwin wrote two columns of news notes for the Fantasy Fan: “Side Glances” (April, May, September 1934) and “Within the Circle” (June, July, August, October, November 1934, January, February 1935), much of the information for which was derived from HPL’s letters to him, as was the significant early article, “H.P.Lovecraft: A Biographical Sketch,” originally scheduled to appear in the Fantasy Fanbut, following that magazine’s demise, published in Fantasy Magazine(April 1935). Baldwin later revised the article as “Some Lovecraft Sidelights” ( Fantasy Commentator,Spring 1948). Excerpts of one letter (now at JHL) were published as “Lovecraft as an Illustrator” ( Acolyte,Summer 1943). See Kenneth W.Faig, Jr., ed., Within the Circle: In Memoriam F.Lee Baldwin(Moshassuck Press, 1988).