1916 Instano yearbook
M. C. Gaines was born Maxwell Charles Ginsburg on September 21, 1894, in New York, New York, according to his World War I and II draft cards. However, a birth certificate for “Max Gensberg” said he was born on the 13th day of September 1894. His parents were “Abraham Gensberg” and “Rosie Reginsky”. An Ancestry.com family tree has the names “Abraham Ginsberg” and “Rose Roginkin”. The certificate appears to be a good match for Gaines despite the slightly different surname spellings and birth days. “Ginsberg” was the spelling on census records.
In the 1900 United States Census, Gaines (line 12) was the second of four sons born to Abraham, a rags dealer, and Rose, both Russian immigrants. They were Manhattan residents at 442 East 86th Street.
The 1910 census counted Gaines (line 77), his parents and two younger brothers in the Bronx at 1819 Barnes Avenue.
The 1916 Instano yearbook of the Pennsylvania State Normal School said Gaines graduated from Morris High School.
According to the 1915 New York state census, Gaines (line 7) was a college student. He was counted in his father’s household in the Bronx at 1735 Victor Street.
In 1916 Gaines graduated from Pennsylvania State Normal School in Indiana, Pennsylvania, where he met his future wife who graduated the same year.
On June 5, 1917, Gaines signed his World War I draft card. His address was 321 Maple, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Gaines was described as medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair.
Gaines’ father passed away on September 3, 1917.
Gaines’ New York military record said his service started on December 15, 1917.
Gaines was identified in the Dallas Morning News (Texas), February 26, 1918.
Doings of Texans at Camp TravisMany Officers Ordered from Leon Springs to Kelly Field for Duty.... Leon Springs Officers Assigned.A large number of unassigned officers at Camp Stanley, Leong Springs, Texas, who were graduates of the second officers’ training school, and who have been undergoing additional instruction and duty, have been assigned to duty last the Kelly Aviation Field with the aviation section, Signal Corps. The list includes the following named ...... To be Second Lieutenants in the aviation section, Signal Corps, and assigned to duty at the Kelly Aviation Field: ... Max Ginsburg ...
He served overseas from November 2, 1918 to January 4, 1919, and honorably discharged on June 26, 1919.
The New York Tribune, June 23, 1919, reported a lease.
Leases Show Demand for Loft and Store SpaceMore Business Concerns Locate in Building in the Downtown SectionsCross & Brown Company has leased the building ... at 835 Broadway to Max Ginsburg and William A. Saffrin ...
Gaines has not yet been found in the 1920 census which was enumerated in January.
The Normal Herald, July 1920, reported Gaines’ marriage.
Jessie Kathryn Postlethwaite, ’16, was married to Max Ginsburg, of the same class, on Monday, May 31, 1920, at the home of her mother in Du Bois, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Ginsburg will make their home at No. 1819 Barnes avenue, New York City.
The Social Security Death Index said Postlethwaite was born on June 17, 1896. In the 1920 census, Postlethwaite (line 72), a Pennsylvania native and public school teacher, lived with her mother, Elizabeth, in Du Bois, Pennsylvania.
Gaines’ mother married Sam Starkman on February 14, 1922 in Manhattan.
Gaines’s son, William, was born on March 1, 1922.
After his son’s birth, Gaines changed his Ginsburg surname.
The 1925 New York state census recorded Gaines (line 40), his wife and three-year-old son, William, in the Bronx at 2497 Grand Avenue. Gaines’ occupation was sales manager.
The 1930 census said the Gaines family resided in Brooklyn at 1827 Mansfield Place. His home was valued at $19,000. The marriage age, 24, is incorrect. At that age his marriage would have been in 1918. Gaines (line 64) was a sales manger at a clothing store.
Gaines’ venture into comic books was told in Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book (2004).
Gaines’ Brooklyn home in the 1940 census was at 1827 East 24th Street. The publisher (line 7) had a twelve-year-old daughter, Elaine, who was not counted in the 1930 census.
Gaines was heard on the radio.
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Corning Evening Leader (New York), April 21, 1942
On April 27, 1942, Gaines signed his World War II draft card. His home address was unchanged. Gaines was self-employed and worked in Manhattan at 225 Lafayette Street, which was the location of his All-American Publications.
Gaines’ son, William, a student, signed his draft card on June 30, 1942.
Gaines’ Picture Stories from the Bible was examined in the Brooklyn Eagle, August 29, 1942.
Print, Volume 3, Number 2, Summer 1942, published Gaines’ article, “Narrative Illustration: The Comics”. The next issue, Volume 3, Number 3, 1943, featured his article, “Good Triumphs Over Evil!”.
The New York Times, May 15, 1943, reported Gaines’ purchase of a house at 16 Colonial Drive in White Plains, New York.
Gaines’ wife’s role in the family was described in The Mad World of William M. Gaines (1973).
Gaines was killed on August 20, 1947 in a boating accident at Lake Placid, New York.
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Nassau Daily Review-Star,
August 21, 1947
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Buffalo Courier-Express,
August 22, 1947
The Alumni News Bulletin (Indiana State Teachers College, Indiana, Pennsylvania), December 1949, said
Jessie K. (Postlethwaite) Gaines, 1916, has sold her beautiful home on Colonial Road, White Plains and will reside on Colonial Avenue, Brooklyn in a apartment. Her daughter, Judy, announced her engagement to a minister’s son in Passaic. The Gaines’ son now heads his fathers’ successful publishing business. Last summer Mrs. Jessie Gaines and daughter spent six weeks in Europe and in Italy.
The Alumni News Bulletin, June 1950, published two items about Postlethwaite.
Elaine Gaines, daughter of Jessie Postlethwaite Gaines and the late Max Gaines, both of Class 1916, was married January 4, 1950 to Mr. Jack Mac Adie of Passaic, New Jersey. The wedding took place at Sherry’s in New York City.Mr. and Mrs. Mac Adie are both students at Bard College.In March 1950 Mrs. M. C. Gaines (Jessie Postlethwaite, 1916) and Mrs. Everett Sanford (Flossie Wagner, 1917) enjoyed an extensive trip. They went, by air, from New York City to Bermuda, to Nassau in the Bahamas, to Miami Beach, Florida and back to New York. Going through customs in Miami they met by chance, Dr. and Mrs. William Lehrick, who, with their daughter, Janet, had been traveling the three months previous, in the West Indies. Mrs. Lehrick is the former Lillian Firestone, Class of 1916, and, at the time. President of the New York City Unit.
The June 1966 issue of the Alumni News Bulletin said
... Special recognition was given to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Foster, Mrs. Jessie Postlethwaite Gaines, and Mrs. Bertha Statler Walker, all of whom are enjoying 50 years or more as members of the Indiana Alumni.
The New York Times, June 16, 1967, published this death notice.
Gaines—Jessie K. on June 13, 1967 widow of M.C. Gaines, mother of William & Virginia E. MacAdie, grandmother of Geoffrey, Bruce, Cathy, Wendy & Chris. Service Friday 10:30 AM at “The Universal” Funeral Chapel 52 St. and Lexington Ave. Interment private.
Further Reading
Print, Rare Vintage Articles About Comics and the Comic Book Industry
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(Updated December 21, 2023; next post on Monday: Ed Hamilton, Artist and Letterer)
Hi Alex. I came across this article in my vexed attempts to research Evelyn Gaines, supposedly Max's niece, who wrote occasionally for the All-American books. I'm only looking for basic lifespan data, but everywhere I've looked is a dead end. This article is by far my best lead, since it's the only place I've been able to find the names of Max's brothers, one of whom would have been her father. I don't have the skills for the hardcore genealogical research to nail this down, and was wondering if you'd be willing to look into it.
ReplyDeleteMax's older brother, Benjamin, had a daughter named Evelyn who was born on May 26, 1919 in the Bronx. After the 1940 census, the family adopted the Gaines surname. In 1944 Evelyn Gaines married Louis Lovelace in California. I don't know how they met. In the 1950 census Evelyn was listed as Lynne Lovelace. The Social Security Death Index has a Lynne Lovelace who died in July 1980 but her birth date was off by ten days, May 16. More details will appear later on my blog.
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