An important science fiction fan, but barely a Fortean.
Erle Melvin Korshak was born 20 October 1923 in Chicago. His family were relatively recent immigrants from Russia. (Documents differ as to whether his father was born there or in Illinois, the earlier ones reporting Russia, the latter the U.S.) Sam Korshak, a veteran of the first World War, managed a dress shop in 1930; he was married to Meady Korshak, and they rented a place in Chicago, where they lived with Erle and German maid, who had immigrated only 4 years before. The 1940 census does not indicate much had changed: the family was still in Chicago, still renting. Sam was a salesman now and their made was no longer with them.
Erle graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1941 and matriculated at the University of Illinois the next year. He wasn’t there long before war intervened, though, and on 20 November 1942—one month exactly after he turned 19—Korshak enlisted as a private in the army; he was involved with field artillery. Interestingly, he enlisted in San Francisco—I’m not sure why he was in California. Korshak was 5’11” and a slight 159 pounds. I am not sure how long he was in the military, but he did end up finishing his schooling and becoming a lawyer.
Erle Melvin Korshak was born 20 October 1923 in Chicago. His family were relatively recent immigrants from Russia. (Documents differ as to whether his father was born there or in Illinois, the earlier ones reporting Russia, the latter the U.S.) Sam Korshak, a veteran of the first World War, managed a dress shop in 1930; he was married to Meady Korshak, and they rented a place in Chicago, where they lived with Erle and German maid, who had immigrated only 4 years before. The 1940 census does not indicate much had changed: the family was still in Chicago, still renting. Sam was a salesman now and their made was no longer with them.
Erle graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1941 and matriculated at the University of Illinois the next year. He wasn’t there long before war intervened, though, and on 20 November 1942—one month exactly after he turned 19—Korshak enlisted as a private in the army; he was involved with field artillery. Interestingly, he enlisted in San Francisco—I’m not sure why he was in California. Korshak was 5’11” and a slight 159 pounds. I am not sure how long he was in the military, but he did end up finishing his schooling and becoming a lawyer.