Finding aid of the Max Gundy and Jack D. Bloch
Papers
Michael C. Oliveira
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
Phone: (213) 741-0094
Fax: (213) 741-0220
Email: askone@onearchives.org
URL: http://www.onearchives.org
© 2008
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives. All rights reserved.
Finding aid of the Max Gundy and Jack D. Bloch
Papers
Collection number: Coll2008-070
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives
Los Angeles,
California
- Processed by:
- Michael C. Oliveira, with assistance from Misha Karbelnig and
Richard French
- Date Completed:
- December 18, 2008
- Encoded by:
- Michael C. Oliveira
© 2008 ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives. All rights reserved.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant
from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Max Gundy and Jack D. Bloch papers
Dates: 1887-1996
Bulk Dates: 1970-1990
Collection number: Coll2008-070
Creator:
Gundy, Max, 1910-1996
Creator:
Bloch, Jack D. (Jack Daniel),
1912-1996
Collection Size: 3 records boxes, 1 archive
carton, and 1 oversize box. 4.8 linear feet.
Repository:
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
Los Angeles, California 90007
Abstract: Materials relating to the lives of progressive
activist Max Gundersheimer (aka Gundy; 1910-1996), of New York City, and his
partner of more than 60 years, Jack D. Bloch (1912-1996). The documents include
correspondence, photographs, business, and financial records, as well as
minutes and notes taken by Gundy of the meetings and other activities of
Communist, socialist, peace, and other progressive organizations in Long Beach,
California, where the couple retired in 1977. Both men died in 1996, within
three months of each other.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access
restrictions.
Publication Rights
Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in
writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner.
Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in
the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant
copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for
all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #, Max Gundy and Jack D. Bloch Papers, Coll2008-070, ONE
National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
Acquisition Information
Date and method of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Formerly boxes 103-106, 103-107, 103-108, and 104-121. Collection
processed by Michael C. Oliveira, with assistance from Misha Karbelnig and
Richard French, December 2008.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Biography
Max Gundersheimer, Jr., was born in New York City on December 19, 1910,
to Max and Alice Gundersheimer. Little is known of his early life. He served as
the President of Beth Sholom Peoples Temple Young Folks League from 1929-1930.
In the early-to-mid 1930s he met Jack D. Bloch, a fellow New Yorker. Bloch was
born June 4, 1912, and held a series of jobs in a variety of occupations until
1942. He served with the U.S. Army in Europe from March 1942 to October 1945.
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Gundersheimer, who went by the name Max
Gundy as early as 1944, became involved in the Communist party and other
progressive causes; he became more actively involved after his retirement to
Long Beach, California, in 1977. In 1950, Bloch purchased a home in
Eastchester, Westchester County, New York, in which the two lived. In 1953,
Bloch joined Gundy's printing business as an assistant production person in
direct mail advertising. The business was dissolved in 1970, and both men
obtained other related positions. In 1977, they retired and relocated to Long
Beach, California, where they purchased a condominium. Bloch volunteered
helping other senior citizens while Gundy took a more active role in Communist,
socialist, peace, and other progressive community organizations. He volunteered
at the International Book Shop in Long Beach, of which he became the manager in
the early 1980s. He also ran as the Peace and Freedom Party candidate for the
57th district of the California Assembly between 1980 and 1988. Gundy and Bloch
both died in 1996, within three months of each other, after more than 60 years
together.
Scope and Content of Collection
Approximately half of the collection consists of Gundy's handwritten
notes and minutes, together with newsletters, flyers, and other materials
relating to Communist, socialist, peace, and other progressive community
organizations in Long Beach, California, from 1977 to 1994. The remainder of
the collection consists of Gundy’s and Bloch’s personal papers and the records
of Gundy’s printing business. The personal papers consist of correspondence,
photographs, financial records, genealogical information dating from 1887, day
planner calendar books, and various greeting cards. The collection is divided
into two series: (1) Community Activism, and (2) Personal Papers.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Bloch, Jack D. (Jack Daniel),
1912-1996
Citizens' associations--California--Long
Beach
Communist Party of the United States of
America--California--Long Beach
Gay couples--United States
Gay men--California--Long Beach
Gundersheimer, Max,
1910-1996
Gundy, Max (pseudonym for
Gundersheimer, Max), 1910-1996
Peace and Freedom Party of
California
Political activists--California--Long
Beach
Separated Material
The following materials were transferred to the library collections of
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, December 18, 2008.
Brogan, Jim.
Jack and Jim: A Personal Journal of the
70's
. Bolinas, California: Equanimity Press, 1982.
Berger, Raymond M.
Gay and Gray: The Older Homosexual Man.
Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1982.
Data-Boy Magazine. Pacific Southwest, number
192, October 19, 1977 / Pacific Northwest, number 117, October 20, 1977.
The Directory Long Beach: A Gay Persons
Guide
. Tukay Media Services, Long Beach, California. Volume 2, number
3, 1980; volume 6, number 2, 1984.
Gordon, Eric A.
Mark the Music: The Life and Work of Marc
Blitzstein
. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989.
Hernton, Calvin C.
Coming Together: Black Power, White Hatred, and
Sexual Hang-Ups
. New York: Random House, 1971
ONE Magazine. ONE Incorporated, Los Angeles,
California. Volume 11, number 10, October 1963.
Weinberg, George H.
Society and the Healthy Homosexual. New
York: St. Martin's Press, 1972.
The Voice. Paul D. Hardman & Associates,
San Francisco, California. Volume 2, number 11, May 23, 1980.
Collection Contents
Series 1:
Community Activism
1974-1994
Physical Description: 42 folders.
Series Scope and Content
From 1977 to 1994, Gundy participated in approximately twenty
different progressive community organizations in Long Beach, including
Communist, socialist, and peace groups. The folders in this series are arranged
alphabetically by the name or title Gundy provided, and contain Gundy's
handwritten notes and minutes along with the organizations' newsletters,
flyers, and other materials. The first two folders listed contain unsorted
flyers and handwritten lists and notes. The folders contain Gundy's handwritten
notes and minutes along with the organizations' newsletters, and flyers.
Box 1 : 1
Unsorted Flyers
circa 1985
Box 1 : 2
Unsorted Lists and Notes
circa 1985
Box 1 : 3
Ad Hoc Committee in Defense of the Political Prisoners of
Iran
1984
Box 1 : 4
American Civil Liberties Union Gay Rights Chapter (ACLU
GRC)
1977-1989
Box 1 : 6
Coalition for a National Health Care Plan / Los Angeles
South Coalition for National Health Care
1984-1985
Box 1 : 7
Coalition to Roll Back Rents / Council of Senior
Citizens
1978
Box 1 : 8
Committee for a Just Peace in the Middle East
1974-1976
Box 1 : 9
Committee in Solidarity with the People of Iran
(CISPI)
1984-1985
Box 1 : 10
Communist Party
1979-1989
Box 1 : 15
International Book Shop (IBS)
1977-1989
Box 1 : 16
Long Beach Anti-Klan Coalition (LBAKC)
1981-1983
Box 1 : 17
Long Beach Area Citizens for Peace (LBACP)
1981-1985
Box 1 : 18
Long Beach Area Citizens Involved (LBACI)
1977-1984
Box 1 : 19
Long Beach Area Peace Network (LBAPN)
1982-1992
Box 1 : 20
Long Beach Club of the Communist Party (Club)
1983-1989
Box 1 : 21
Long Beach Housing Action Association (LBHAA)
1978-1981
Box 1 : 22-23
Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club (LBLDC)
1977-1990
Box 1 : 24
National MJ Coalition on Lebanon
1982
Box 1 : 25
National Committee Against Repressive Legislation
(NCARL)
1983-1984
Box 1 : 26
ONE, Incorporated
1970-1984
Box 1 : 27-28
ONE in Long Beach, Incorporated
1977-1994
Box 1 : 29
Peace and Freedom Party (PFP)
1981-1994
Box 2 : 1
Peace and Solidarity Commission
1983-1984
Box 2 : 2
People for Just Cause Evictions
1983
Box 2 : 3 ; 5 : 5 (Oversize)
People's World,
People's Daily World
1977-1988
Box 2 : 4
PISC (unknown acronym)
1984
Box 2 : 5
Response Committee to the Straight Community
Order
1987
Box 2 : 6
Right on Committee (ROC)
1981-1989
Box 2 : 7
Socialist Classes
1981-1986
Box 2 : 8
Southern California Coalition for a National Health
Service
1984-1989
Box 2 : 9
Tikva: Lesbian and Gay Jews Celebrating Our
Heritage
newsletter
1986
Box 2 : 10
The Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC), Unitarian
Universalists Fellowship (UUF)
1977-1985
Box 2 : 11
The United States Peace Council (USPC)
1982-1984
Box 2 : 12
Wilsonian Apartments
1976-1994
Series 2:
Personal Documents
1887-1996
Physical Description: 37 folders.
Series Scope and Content
This series consists of genealogical information, correspondence,
photographs, personal and business financial records, day planner desk
calendars, and various greeting cards, including New Years, birth
announcements, birthday, get-well, Christmas, and Hanukkah cards. The folders
of three alphabetical file cases of correspondence and financial records retain
their original alphabetical order. The eight folders of photographs consist of
early family photographs, Gundy as an activist, Bloch in the military and on
vacation, Gundy and Bloch together at home and on vacation, and photographs
from their extended family.
Box 2 : 13
Biographical and Family Documents
1887-1996
Correspondence
1928-1995
Physical Description: 12 folders.
Box 2 : 16-17 ; 5 : 3
(Oversize)
File Case 1: A-W
1928-1953
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 2 : 18-19
File Case 2: D-Z
1929-1947
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Box 2 : 14-15 ; 5 : 2
(Oversize)
File Case 3: N-Z
1928-1947
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 2 : 20-22
1931-1995
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Max Gundy Printing
1952-1970
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 2 : 25
Business Records
1952-1970
Personal
1940-1995
Physical Description: 20 folders.
Box 2 : 24
Bank Statements
1948-1984
Box 3 : 4-10
Day Planners
1970-1994
Physical Description: 11 items ; 7 folders.
Box 3 : 1
Federal, State, and Local Tax Documents
1955-1976
Box 3 : 11-18
Greeting Cards
1970-1995
Physical Description: 8 folders.
Box 2 : 23
Identification cards
1940-1982
Box 3 : 2
Insurance Documents
1956-1984
Box 3 : 3
Miscellaneous Receipts
1969-1986
Photographs
circa 1916-circa
1990
Physical Description: 12 folders.
Box 4 :
1
Gundy and Gundy with Family
circa
1916-1978
Box 4 : 2
Gundy and Progressive Organizations
1968-1985
Box 4 : 3
International Bookshop
1978
Box 4 : 4
Bloch and Bloch with Family
circa 1929-circa
1984
Box 4 : 5
Bloch in United States Army, United States and
Europe
1942-1945
Box 4 : 6
Bloch on Vacation
circa 1945-circa
1965
Box 4 :
7-9
Gundy and Bloch
circa
1950-1977
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 4 :
10-12
Extended Family
circa
1920-1988
Physical Description: 3 folders.
