Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Jay V. Jay, Part 1: Laura Johnson

“Modish Mitzi,” the clever fashion strip ... is the work of three New York girls—two fashion writers and an artist. They are Laura Johnson, who is the artist; and Virginia Vincent and Jeannette Kiekintveld who divide the task of gathering information, working out ideas and writing the stories. “Jay V. Jay” is their triple signature. 

Laura Johnson was born March 1894 in New York according to the 1900 United States Census. Her parents were Sinclair, a civil engineer, and Sarah. Johnson was the second of four sisters. The family resided in Franklin, New Jersey on Prospect Street. 

The 1905 New Jersey state census and 1910 census counted Johnson, her parents and four siblings in Montclair, New Jersey at 127 Gates Avenue.

According to the 1915 New Jersey state census, the Johnson family were Montclair residents at 28 Montclair Avenue. Johnson’s occupation was artist. Information about her art training has not been found. 

In the 1920 census, Johnson was the head of the household which included her four sisters. Johnson was a self-employed fashion artist. The sisters lived in East Orange, New Jersey at 35 Shepard Avenue. 

1926

American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Modish Mitzi began on November 19, 1923 from the George Matthew Adams Service. Writers Jeannette Kiekintveld and Virginia Vincent, and artist Johnson were profiled in many newspapers including the Paris Morning News (Texas), March 2, 1924, and the Oakland Tribune (California), August 13, 1926. The trio were included in their syndicate’s advertisement published in Editor & Publisher, August 25, 1928. 

Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/23/1923

Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/24/1923

Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, December 16, 1924, published a trademark application for Modish Mitzi. 

Editor & Publisher, 12/19/1925

Dry Goods Merchants Trade Journal, 4/1927

Advertising Arts and Crafts (1928)

Editor and Publisher, 1/10/1931

The 1930 census said Johnson, as Laura J. Murphy, was a widow and freelance artist who lived in East Orange, New Jersey at 67 South Munn Avenue. Her husband was J. Donald Murphy. 

In the 1940 census, Johnson, as Laura Mitchell, moved to New York City after 1935. Her address was 25 Prospect Place. Johnson was a freelance commercial artist whose highest level of education was the fourth year of high school. The census said she was 30 years old at her first marriage. Information about her second marriage has not been found. Living with Johnson was her sister, Helen, a fashion artist. 

Johnson has not yet been found in the 1950 census.

Editor & Publisher, October 15, 1960 mentioned Johnson. 

‘Katy’s Kitchen’ Goes Foreign, Too

Claire Barcher Ackerman, Salisbury, Conn., has signed a three-year contract with another three-year option with the United Overseas Press Syndicate for foreign distribution of her strip, “Katy’s Kitchen,” under byline of “Country Gourmet.”

The art work on the strip is by Laura J. Mitchell, creator of “Modish Mitzi,” a style strip which formerly was syndicated by the George Matthew Adams Service and later by the Ledger Syndicate, Philadelphia, for 15 years. Mrs. Ackerman writes the plot and the selected, tested recipes for unusual American and foreign dishes.

Additional information about Johnson has not been found. 

The Social Security Death Index said Johnson, as Laura Mitchell, was born on March 12, 1894 and obtained a Social Security number in New Jersey. Find a Grave said she passed away on February 11, 1978, and was laid to rest with her first husband at Mount Hebron Cemetery.