Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Jay V. Jay, Part 2: Virginia Vincent
“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.
Virginia Vincent was born on July 22, 1897 in Newark, New Jersey, according to passenger lists at Ancestry.com.
In the 1900 United States Census, Vincent was the youngest of five children born to Gibson and Albina who was born in England. The family were residents of Boonton, New Jersey on Reserve Street.
The 1905 New York state census said the Vincent family was in Manhattan, New York City, at 356 West 145th Street. Her father was a clothier.
The 1910 census counted Vincent and her family in Manhattan at 413 West 147th Street. Her father was a clothing merchant.
According to the 1920 census, newspaper writer Vincent and her older sister, Emily, made their home at 15 West 4th Street in Manhattan.
In 1922, Vincent visited Europe. Aboard the steamship Berengaria, she sailed from Cherbourg, France and arrived at the port of New York on September 20, 1922.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Modish Mitzi began on November 19, 1923 from the George Matthew Adams Service. Writers Jeannette Kiekintveld and Vincent, and artist Laura 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.
.jpg)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/23/1923
.jpg)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/25/1923
The 1925 New York state census counted Vincent twice; she lived at 15 West 9th Street, in Manhattan, and was a fashion editor on one sheet and an advertising copywriter on another.
Vincent visited Europe again. From Le Havre, France, she sailed on the steamship Paris and arrived in New York on June 1, 1927.
On July 30, 1927, Vincent witnessed the marriage of Jeannette Kiekintveld to Leo de Courie Moser.
Printers’ Ink, July 1, 1929, said
Biow Agency Increases Staff... Miss Virginia Vincent, formerly with the advertising department of Best Co., and recently with R. H. Macy & Co., has joined the copy department of this agency. ...
Vincent has not yet been found in the 1930 census.
Vincent was mentioned in Ladies’ Home Journal, May 1930.
... A strange deviation from the usual is the comic fashion cartoon Modish Mitzi, edited by Virginia Vincent. It is one of the few humorous cartoon features in which a woman has achieved success. ...
Vincent contributed to Screenland magazine: “Famous Figures”, “Our Cosmetic Urge” and “Hair-Raising Hollywood”.
The New York Evening Post, April 22, 1931, mentioned, I believe erroneously, Vincent as an artist.
Dorothy Dix Guest of Honor at TeaEditors, Publishers, News Writers Invited to Hotel Pennsylvania Fete TodayMrs. Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer, who is Dorothy Dix to newspaper readers all over the country, will be the guest of honor this afternoon at a tea given for her by the Ledger Syndicate in the Hotel Pennsylvania at 5 o’clock. ...... On the receiving line will be several of Mrs. Gilmer’s fellow contributors to the syndicate, including Ruth Stuyvesant, fashion writer for the Evening Post and other newspapers. Dr. Jane Leslie Kist, garden expert; Lois Leeds, beauty expert; Nancy Carey, homemaking expert; Vivian Shirley, special news writer; Charlotte Brewster Jordan, authority on correct English; Helen Docie writer on etiquette, and Virginia Vincent, fashion artist. ...
Beginning in 1932, Vincent produced the column, Minute Make-Ups, for the Ledger Syndicate. In 1934, Vincent added the beauty column, You Can Be Beautiful.
In the 1940 census, Vincent’s address was 15 West 9th Street in Manhattan. Her occupation was publicity in the advertising field. She had one year of college and, in 1939, earned $4,500.
In early 1945 Vincent was appointed beauty editor of the Ideal Women’s Group. Announcements appeared in The American Perfumer and Essential Oil Review, January 1945; Printer’s Ink, January 12, 1945; and Sales Management, February 1, 1945.
Printer’s Ink, June 1, 1945, printed a photograph of Vincent with actress Virginia Mayo.
Writer’s Digest, March 1946, said Vincent joined the staff of Deb magazine.
Additional information about Vincent has not been found. She should not be confused with actress Virginia Vincent.
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
