Disclave was a science fiction convention

Science fiction convention

Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...

 run by the Washington Science Fiction Association

Washington Science Fiction Association

The Washington Science Fiction Association is the oldest science fiction club in the Washington, D.C. area. It is also one of the oldest science fiction clubs, founded in 1947 by seven fans who met at that year's Worldcon in Philadelphia, the fifth Worldcon held.Since 1960 it has met on the...

 (WSFA) in or near Washington D.C. in the springtime of nearly every year from 1950 through 1997. By many counts it was the third-oldest science fiction convention.

At first it was intermittent and small, with an attendance as low as 22 people (in 1953). From 1965 on it happened every year. From 1971 on it always lasted three days, was always on Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...

 weekend, and for a notable section of the SF community that weekend was considered Disclave's, so much so that it was only after several years of there being no Disclave that another local organization (Balticon

Balticon

Balticon is the Maryland Regional science fiction convention, sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society . It has been held annually since 1966...

) asked if they could use that weekend and are now on Memorial Day.

The highest attendance was 1485 (in 1979), 85 more members than in 1981 when Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...

 was the Guest of Honor. Some of the other Guests of Honor included Lois McMaster Bujold, Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying into the religion. He is a prolific short story writer and a novelist, and has won many awards in the...

, George R. R. Martin

George R. R. Martin

George Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, his bestselling series of epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted for their dramatic pay-cable series Game of...

, Connie Willis

Connie Willis

Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis is an American science fiction writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for Blackout/All Clear...

 and William Gibson

William Gibson

William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...

. Notable chairs were Jay Haldeman

Jack C. Haldeman II

Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...

, Alexis A. Gilliland

Alexis A. Gilliland

Alexis Arnaldus Gilliland is an American science fiction writer and cartoonist. He resides in Arlington, Virginia.Gilliland won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1982, notably beating David Brin and Michael Swanwick for the honor...

 and Jack Chalker.

In the early 1990s more and more people who were not members of Disclave came to the hotel in conjunction with the convention. This hit critical mass in 1997 when a fire sprinkler was broken, flooding much of the hotel. Although an investigation determined that neither Disclave nor WSFA was held responsible for this event it became known as 'the Disclave flood' and forever associated with the convention. The 1998 Disclave, scheduled for a different hotel on a different weekend, was canceled six weeks before the convention by the hotel. 1997 was the last Disclave.

WSFA took advantage of the period after Disclave to discuss and plan the structure and focus of their next convention. The first Capclave was held in 2001.

List of Disclaves

Year-Mo-Days	Site	State	Featured Guests	Chair	Attendance
1950 4 30	Wardman Park	DC	Willy Ley Willy Ley Willy Ley was a German-American science writer and space advocate who helped popularize rocketry and spaceflight in both Germany and the United States. The crater Ley on the far side of the Moon is named in his honor.-Life:...	Bob Briggs	75
1951 4 29	Statler	DC	Sam Moskowitz Sam Moskowitz Sam Moskowitz was an early fan and organizer of interest in science fiction and, later, a writer, critic, and historian of the field.-Biography:...	Bob Briggs	23
1952 None
1953 3 22	Statler	DC	"Proxyclave"	Bob Briggs	22
1954 None
1955 None
1956 None
1957 None
1958 5 10-11	Arva Motel	VA	None	Bob Pavlat	65
1959 5 16-17	Diplomat Motel	DC	None	Bob Pavlat	65
1960 5 21-22	Diplomat Motel	DC	None	George H. Scithers George H. Scithers George H. Scithers was a science fiction fan, author, and Hugo Award winning editor.A long-time member of the World Science Fiction Society, he published a fanzine starting in the '50s, wrote short stories, and moved on to edit several prominent science fiction magazines, as well as a number of...
1961 5 13-14	Diplomat Motel	DC	None	George H. Scithers George H. Scithers George H. Scithers was a science fiction fan, author, and Hugo Award winning editor.A long-time member of the World Science Fiction Society, he published a fanzine starting in the '50s, wrote short stories, and moved on to edit several prominent science fiction magazines, as well as a number of...	40
1962 5 12-13	Diplomat Motel	DC	None	George H. Scithers George H. Scithers George H. Scithers was a science fiction fan, author, and Hugo Award winning editor.A long-time member of the World Science Fiction Society, he published a fanzine starting in the '50s, wrote short stories, and moved on to edit several prominent science fiction magazines, as well as a number of...	32
1963 None
1964 None
1965 5 8-9	Howard Johnson's Wheaton	MD	Chris and Sam Moskowitz Sam Moskowitz Sam Moskowitz was an early fan and organizer of interest in science fiction and, later, a writer, critic, and historian of the field.-Biography:...	Banks Mebane	83
1966 5 13-15	Diplomat Motel	DC	Roger Zelazny Roger Zelazny Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...	Jay Haldeman Jack C. Haldeman II Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...	99
1967 5 12-14	Regency Congress	DC	Jack Gaughan Jack Gaughan Jack Gaughan was an American science fiction artist and illustrator who won the Hugo Award several times. Working primarily with Donald A...	Jay Haldeman Jack C. Haldeman II Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...
1968 5 10-12	Regency Congress	DC	Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...	Jay Haldeman Jack C. Haldeman II Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...
1969 5 09-11	Skyline Inn	DC	Lester del Rey Lester del Rey Lester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey was the author of many of the Winston Science Fiction juvenile SF series, and the editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books, along with his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.-Birth...	Jay Haldeman Jack C. Haldeman II Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...
1970 5 15-17	Skyline Inn	DC	Murray Leinster Murray Leinster Murray Leinster was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an award-winning American writer of science fiction and alternate history...	Jay Haldeman Jack C. Haldeman II Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...
1971 5 28-31	Shoreham Hotel	DC	Terry Carr Terry Carr Terry Gene Carr was a U.S. science fiction author, editor, and teacher.Terry Carr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon...	Jay Haldeman Jack C. Haldeman II Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...
1972 5 26-29	Sheraton Park	DC	Ben Bova Ben Bova Benjamin William Bova is an American science-fiction author and editor. He is the recipient of six Hugo Awards for Best Professional Editor for his work at Analog Science Fiction in the 1970's.-Personal life:...	Jay Haldeman Jack C. Haldeman II Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...
1973 5 25-28	Sheraton Park	DC	Gardner Dozois Gardner Dozois Gardner Raymond Dozois is an American science fiction author and editor. He was editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine from 1984 to 2004...	Jay Haldeman Jack C. Haldeman II Jack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman.- Biography :...
1974 5 24-27	Sheraton Park	DC	Kelly Freas	Alexis Gilliland	284
1975 5 23-26	Sheraton Park	DC	Gordon Dickson	Alexis Gilliland	360
1976 5 28-31	Sheraton Park	DC	William Tenn William Tenn William Tenn was the pseudonym of Philip Klass , a British-born American science fiction author, notable for many stories with satirical elements.-Early life:...	Alexis Gilliland	675
1977 5 27-30	Sheraton Park	DC	Joe Haldeman Joe Haldeman Joe William Haldeman is an American science fiction author.-Life :Haldeman was born June 9, 1943 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His family traveled and he lived in Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Bethesda, Maryland and Anchorage, Alaska as a child. Haldeman married Mary Gay Potter, known...	Alexis Gilliland	850
1978 5 26-29	Sheraton Park	DC	Bob (Wilson) Tucker Wilson Tucker Arthur Wilson "Bob" Tucker was an American mystery, action adventure, and science fiction writer, who wrote professionally as Wilson Tucker....	Alexis Gilliland	1005
1979 5 25-28	Sheraton Park	DC	Roger Zelazny Roger Zelazny Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series... /Michael Whelan Michael Whelan Michael Whelan is an American artist of imaginative realism. For more than 30 years he worked as an illustrator specializing in science fiction and fantasy cover art...	Alan Huff	1485
1980 5 23-26	Hospitality House	VA	Jeanne and Spider Robinson Spider Robinson Spider Robinson is an American-born Canadian Hugo and Nebula award winning science fiction author.- Biography :Born in the Bronx, New York City, Robinson attended Catholic high school, spending his junior year in a seminary, followed by two years in a Catholic college, and five years at the State...	Tom Schaad
1981 5 22-25	Sheraton National	VA	Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...	Alexis Gilliland	1400
1982 5 28-31	Sheraton National	VA	Elizabeth Lynn Elizabeth A. Lynn Elizabeth A. Lynn is a US writer most known for fantasy and to a lesser extent science fiction. She is particularly known for being one of the first writers in science fiction or fantasy to introduce gay and lesbian characters; in honor of Lynn, the GLBT bookstore "A Different Light" took its... /Tom Miller	Jack Chalker/Eva Whitley
1983 5 27-30	Marriott TwinBr	VA	George R. R. Martin George R. R. Martin George Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, his bestselling series of epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted for their dramatic pay-cable series Game of... /Jack Gaughan Jack Gaughan Jack Gaughan was an American science fiction artist and illustrator who won the Hugo Award several times. Working primarily with Donald A...	Alan Huff	1100
1984 5 25-28	New Carrollton	MD	Connie Willis Connie Willis Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis is an American science fiction writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for Blackout/All Clear... /Paul Yurek	Jane Wagner	900
1985 5 24-27	New Carrollton	MD	Ed Bryant Edward Bryant Edward Winslow Bryant Jr. is a science fiction and horror writer sometimes associated with the Dangerous Visions series of anthologies that bolstered The New Wave.... /Bob Walters	Michael J. Walsh Michael Walsh (publisher) Michael Jarrett Walsh owns and operates Old Earth Books, a small press science fiction publisher. He primarily publishes re-prints, though occasionally he issues original books from established authors. His first publication was a short story collection Rude Astronauts, by Allen Steele, published...
1986 5 23-26	New Carrollton	MD	William Gibson William Gibson William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer... /Steve Stiles	Jack Heneghan
1987 5 22-25	New Carrollton	MD	Gene Wolfe Gene Wolfe Gene Wolfe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying into the religion. He is a prolific short story writer and a novelist, and has won many awards in the... /Barclay Shaw Barclay Shaw Barclay Shaw is an American professional artist best known for his fantasy and science fiction artwork. He has been nominated five times for the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist, and has earned a top ten ranking six times in the annual Locus Poll Award for Best Artist...	Joe Mayhew	1350
1988 5 27-30	New Carrollton	MD	Barbara Hambly Barbara Hambly Barbara Hambly is an award-winning and prolific American novelist and screenwriter within the genres of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and historical fiction... /Jim Burns Jim Burns Jim Burns is a Welsh artist born in Cardiff, Wales.In 1966 he joined the Royal Air Force, but soon thereafter he left and signed up at the Newport School of Art for a year's foundation course....	Tom Schaad	1350
1989 5 26-29	New Carrollton	MD	Lucius Shepard Lucius Shepard Lucius Shepard is an American writer. Classified as a science fiction and fantasy writer, he often leans into other genres, such as magical realism. His work is infused with a political and historical sensibility and an awareness of literary antecedents... /J.K.Potter	Michael J. Walsh
1990 5 25-28	New Carrollton	MD	Mike Resnick Mike Resnick Michael Diamond Resnick , better known by his published name Mike Resnick, is an American science fiction author. He was executive editor of Jim Baen's Universe.-Biography:... /Dawn Wilson/Somtow Sucharitkul/Marty Gear	Eva Whitley	1300
1991 5 24-27	New Carrollton	MD	Lewis Shiner Lewis Shiner Lewis Shiner is an American writer.Shiner began his career as a science fiction writer, identified early on with cyberpunk, and later wrote more mainstream novels, albeit often with magical realism and fantasy elements... /Alicia Austin Alicia Austin Alicia Austin is a US fantasy and science fiction artist and illustrator. She works in print-making, Prismacolor, pastels and watercolors. B...	Peggy Rae Pavlat	1200
1992 5 22-25	Washington Hilton	DC	Pat Cadigan/Thomas Kidd	Michael J. Walsh/Covert Beach
1993 5 28-31	Dulles Marriott	VA	Katherine Kurtz Katherine Kurtz Katherine Kurtz is the author of numerous fantasy novels, most notably the Deryni novels. Although born in America, for the past several years, up until just recently, she has lived in a castle in Ireland... /Patricia Davis	Covert Beach	835
1994 5 27-30	Sheraton Tysons Corner	VA	Lois M. Bujold/Steven Johnson/Darlene P. Coltrane	John Peacock/Paula Lewis
1995 5 26-29	Techworld	DC	Charles Sheffield Charles Sheffield Charles Sheffield , was an English-born mathematician, physicist and science fiction author. He had been a President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and of the American Astronautical Society.... /Bob Eggleton Bob Eggleton Bob Eggleton is a science fiction, fantasy, and horror artist. Eggleton has been honored with the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist eight times, first winning in 1994. He also won the Hugo Award for Best Related Book in 2001 for his art book "Greetings From Earth"... /David Bischoff David Bischoff David F. Bischoff is an American science fiction and television writer.-General Background:Born in Washington D.C. and now living in Eugene, Oregon, Bischoff writes science fiction books, short stories, and scripts for television...	Dan Hoey
1996 5 24-27	Capitol Hill Hyatt	DC	Michael Swanwick Michael Swanwick Michael Swanwick is an American science fiction author. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he began publishing in the early 1980s.-Biography:... /Hannah Shapero	Bob MacIntosh	623
1997 5 23-26	New Carrollton	MD	Patricia Anthony Patricia Anthony Patricia Anthony is an American science fiction and Slipstream author. Anthony published her first science fiction novel in 1992 with Cold Allies, about the arrival of extraterrestrials in the midst of a 21st Century Third World War... /Lissanne Lake/Peggy Rae Pavlat	Michael Nelson	850
1998 None			Terry Bisson Terry Bisson Terry Ballantine Bisson is an American science fiction and fantasy author best known for his short stories... /Gene Wolfe Gene Wolfe Gene Wolfe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying into the religion. He is a prolific short story writer and a novelist, and has won many awards in the... /Nicholas Jainschigg	Joe Mayhew	0
1999 None				Sam Pierce	0
2000 None				Covert Beach	0