The Crucible: the newspaper of Minnesota politics [ten issues]

St. Paul, MN: De Young Press, 1972. Newsletter. Ten issues of the 8.5x11 inch weekly newsletter; several issues with alternate subtitle "America's family newspaper." No. 6 has penciled note at top, "From Garry De Young Defense Fund." Issues present are vol. 1 nos. 2, 3, 6-9, and four unnumbered issues with dates continuing to June 21, 1972. Length ranges from 6 to 9 pages each, printed on various types of paper, one issue toned. Editor Garry De Young was an atheist activist and poet who found it necessary to relocate several times after his activities resulted in alienation from his community. Leaving Duluth, he found a job with the Minnesota Highway Department while establishing the Minnesota Institute of Philosophy, an atheist diploma mill that granted PhDs. In this newsletter he skewers the Highway Department for plans to tear down a Black neighborhood in the Twin Cities area for a freeway, and assails such customs as playing Christian carols at Department holiday parties. Despite the subtitle's implication that Minnesota politics are its theme, most of the contents are highly personal, relating to De Young's legal issues deriving from atheist activism and resulting bureaucratic penalties. There are occasional open letters to public figures such as Walter Mondale, from a family whose son-in-law had become a Vietnam War resister and sought his compassionate transfer from a naval ship.
The first issue present has a cover story about De Young's wife seeking a divorce. The announcement is sufficiently interesting to quote at length: "Editor of The Crucible, Garry De Young, suffered the greatest defeat of his life on April 1st, (not an April Fool joke) when his wife of 25 years informed him that she was seeking a divorce. De Young, determined to maintain sound mental health for his crucial battles ahead, will not crumble. Instead, he will continue with his life's work and seek a wife. The qualifications he is looking for: Must be intelligent, have boundless energy, must be a voracious reader, must be an Atheist, must be creative, should know at least how to boil hot-dogs and fry eggs over light, should know how to make toast without burning, also must know how to make good coffee. No alcoholics wanted, must be willing to put up with my cigar smoking and keep me supplied with Dutch Masters Belvederes, can smoke, must put up with my obscene language and unfashionable friends, would be expected to stand at my side through all adversity, should be willing to bear my children, is expected to run a tight ship, no slovenly household will be tolerated, must not consider my affections revolting or repulsive, expected to help me build the finest university in America, expected to help me build the finest newspaper in America, expected to help with legal research, expected to have courage equal to mine, must give me complete loyalty and emotional support, must at all times consider her man more important than her job, expect attributes of inquisitiveness, must keep herself physically and mentally healthy and attractive - no slobs considered. In short, must want to join me in my endeavors. If she doesn't know how to typewrite she will have to learn. Applicant must be mature and expect to undergo a trial period of at least two years." In the end, the couple managed to survive the tumult of De Young's legal troubles and their marital strife, relocating to Texas.