Bjo Trimble
Betty Jo Trimble (born Betty JoAnne Conway on August 15, 1933 and otherwise known as "Bjo") entered science fiction fandom in the early 1950s, along with her husband John.
Introduction to fandom
Trimble's introduction to science fiction fandom was TASFiC, the 1952 Worldcon. She was a WAVE stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes who happened to see an announcement in "Astounding Science Fiction" about the upcoming convention that weekend. She met a number of other science fiction enthusiasts, including Robert Bloch, Willy Ley, August Derleth and Harlan Ellison. When it was discovered that she was an artist and cartoonist, she was recruited to contribute illustrations for science fiction fanzines. Trimble says that she met John Trimble during a party. "John was in the Air Force, so he and I traded Stupid Office Stories and discovered we liked each other a lot".
Fan activities
Trimble helped revive a flagging Los Angeles Science Fiction Society (LASFS) in the late 1950s. In 1958, she put together the "Worldcon Futuristic Fashion Show" at Solacon, the 1958 16th World Science Fiction Convention. She ran one again in 1966 at Tricon, the 24th Worldcon, incidentally giving fandom a glimpse of three early "Star Trek" costumes. Trimble started and directed "Project Art Show", the first modern convention art show, in 1960. The success of Project Art Show led to art shows becoming a profitable part of most conventions, large and small.
The Trimbles worked on the successful "Save Star Trek" campaign, generally credited with allowing the series to run for a third season rather than being canceled after two. They also were involved with the campaign to have the first of NASA's space shuttles named "Enterprise". Along with a contingent of other members of fandom, Trimble was allowed to serve as extras in the Recreation Deck scene of Star Trek: The Motion Picture". Her other film credits include makeup design for "Flesh Gordon"; and a role as "Ma Cant", a satirical version of Superman's Martha Kent, in a film short called "Superbman: The Other Movie".
Trimble authored the first encyclopedic collection of data for "Star Trek", the Star Trek Concordance, which contains cross-referenced details on every character, setting, event and device in every episode of the original "Star Trek", its animated incarnation and, in later editions of the book, the "Star Trek" films.
Trimble received the Big Heart Award in 1964, and the Society for Creative Anachronism's Order of the Laurel, an art award. Bjo and John are members of the SCA's Order of the Pelican for service and were Baron and Baroness of the SCA's Barony of the Angels [Los Angeles Chapter of the SCA] from September 2008 until January 2012. She also received the International Costumers Guild's Lifetime Achievement award. Trimble was Guest of Honor at 1995's DragonCon, the 6th North American Science Fiction Convention, as well as at many other science fiction and "Star Trek" conventions around the world. Bjo and John Trimble were the Fan Guests of Honor at the 60th Worldcon, ConJosé.
The Trimbles own and operate the business Griffin Dyeworks & Fiber Arts, live in Southern California.
