Finding aid of the Max Gundy and Jack D. Bloch Papers Coll2008.070
Coll2008-070
Michael C. Oliveira
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Max Gundy and Jack D. Bloch papers
creator:
Gundy, Max
creator:
Bloch, Jack D. (Jack Daniel)
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2008-070
Physical Description:
4.8 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1887-1996
Date (bulk): bulk
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.
Physical Description: 3 records boxes, 1 archive carton, and 1 oversize box.
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.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Citizens' associations -- California -- Long Beach
Gay couples -- United States
Communist Party of the United States of America -- California -- Long Beach
Political activists -- California -- Long Beach
Gay men -- California -- Long Beach
Gundy, Max
Peace and Freedom Party of California
Gundy, Max
Bloch, Jack D. (Jack Daniel)
Bloch, Jack D. (Jack Daniel)
Community Activism Series 1:
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, Folder 1
Unsorted Flyers
circa 1985
Box 1, Folder 2
Unsorted Lists and Notes
circa 1985
Box 1, Folder 3
Ad Hoc Committee in Defense of the Political Prisoners of Iran
1984
Box 1, Folder 4
American Civil Liberties Union Gay Rights Chapter (ACLU GRC)
1977-1989
Box 1, Folder 6
Coalition for a National Health Care Plan / Los Angeles South Coalition for National Health Care
1984-1985
Box 1, Folder 7
Coalition to Roll Back Rents / Council of Senior Citizens
1978
Box 1, Folder 8
Committee for a Just Peace in the Middle East
1974-1976
Box 1, Folder 9
Committee in Solidarity with the People of Iran (CISPI)
1984-1985
Box 1, Folder 10
Communist Party
1979-1989
Box 1, Folder 15
International Book Shop (IBS)
1977-1989
Box 1, Folder 16
Long Beach Anti-Klan Coalition (LBAKC)
1981-1983
Box 1, Folder 17
Long Beach Area Citizens for Peace (LBACP)
1981-1985
Box 1, Folder 18
Long Beach Area Citizens Involved (LBACI)
1977-1984
Box 1, Folder 19
Long Beach Area Peace Network (LBAPN)
1982-1992
Box 1, Folder 20
Long Beach Club of the Communist Party (Club)
1983-1989
Box 1, Folder 21
Long Beach Housing Action Association (LBHAA)
1978-1981
Box 1, Folder 22-23
Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club (LBLDC)
1977-1990
Box 1, Folder 24
National MJ Coalition on Lebanon
1982
Box 1, Folder 25
National Committee Against Repressive Legislation (NCARL)
1983-1984
Box 1, Folder 26
ONE, Incorporated
1970-1984
Box 1, Folder 27-28
ONE in Long Beach, Incorporated
1977-1994
Box 1, Folder 29
Peace and Freedom Party (PFP)
1981-1994
Box 2, Folder 1
Peace and Solidarity Commission
1983-1984
Box 2, Folder 2
People for Just Cause Evictions
1983
People's World,
People's Daily World
1977-1988
Box 5, Folder 5 (Oversize)
Box 2, Folder 4
PISC (unknown acronym)
1984
Box 2, Folder 5
Response Committee to the Straight Community Order
1987
Box 2, Folder 6
Right on Committee (ROC)
1981-1989
Box 2, Folder 7
Socialist Classes
1981-1986
Box 2, Folder 8
Southern California Coalition for a National Health Service
1984-1989
Box 2, Folder 9
Tikva: Lesbian and Gay Jews Celebrating Our Heritage newsletter
1986
Box 2, Folder 11
The United States Peace Council (USPC)
1982-1984
Box 2, Folder 12
Wilsonian Apartments
1976-1994
Box 2, Folder 10
The Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC), Unitarian Universalists Fellowship (UUF)
1977-1985
Personal Documents Series 2:
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.
Biographical and Family Documents
1887-1996
Box 5, Folder 1 (Oversize)
Correspondence
1928-1995
Physical Description: 12 folders.
Box 2, Folder 16-17 ; 5, Folder 3
(Oversize)
File Case 1: A-W
1928-1953
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 2, Folder 18-19
File Case 2: D-Z
1929-1947
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Box 2, Folder 14-15 ; 5, Folder 2
(Oversize)
File Case 3: N-Z
1928-1947
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 2, Folder 20-22
1931-1995
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 5, Folder 4 (Oversize)
Max Gundy Printing
1952-1970
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 2, Folder 25
Business Records
1952-1970
Personal
1940-1995
Physical Description: 20 folders.
Box 2, Folder 24
Bank Statements
1948-1984
Box 3, Folder 4-10
Day Planners
1970-1994
Physical Description: 11 items ; 7 folders.
Box 3, Folder 1
Federal, State, and Local Tax Documents
1955-1976
Box 3, Folder 11-18
Greeting Cards
1970-1995
Physical Description: 8 folders.
Box 2, Folder 23
Identification cards
1940-1982
Box 3, Folder 2
Insurance Documents
1956-1984
Box 3, Folder 3
Miscellaneous Receipts
1969-1986
Photographs
circa 1916-circa 1990
Gundy (Max) and Jack D. Bloch photographs, sample
Physical Description: 12 folders.
Box 4, Folder 1
Gundy and Gundy with Family
circa 1916-1978
Box 4, Folder 2
Gundy and Progressive Organizations
1968-1985
Box 4, Folder 3
International Bookshop
1978
Box 4, Folder 4
Bloch and Bloch with Family
circa 1929-circa 1984
Box 4, Folder 5
Bloch in United States Army, United States and Europe
1942-1945
Box 4, Folder 6
Bloch on Vacation
circa 1945-circa 1965
Box 4, Folder 7-9
Gundy and Bloch
circa 1950-1977
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 4, Folder 10-12
Extended Family
circa 1920-1988
Physical Description: 3 folders.
