Mary Gnaedinger

Born in Brooklyn, New York, as Mary Catherine Jacobson, she attended the Columbia University School of Journalism. == Personal life ==

Mary Jacobson married Louis Beverley Nichol Gnaedinger (1898–1977), a Canadian from Montreal, on September 22, 1919. They probably met at the Columbia University School of Journalism, since both attended at the same time. They had one child, Arthur Beverly Gnaedinger (b. April 13, 1920). Louis B. Gnaedinger was a business reporter for the New York Times and other papers. The couple divorced, date unknown. == Editorial work in science fiction ==

In her career as an editor, Mary Gnaedinger became the editor of the science fiction and fantasy magazines Famous Fantastic Mysteries in 1939 and Fantastic Novels in 1940, She is known as the first female lead editor of a science fiction publication. In his obituary of Gnaedinger published in 1977, fantasy and science fiction author Lin Carter wrote: Copies of Famous Fantastic Mysteries and Fantastic Novels, including issues edited by Mary Gnaedinger, can be found in the City Tech Science Fiction Collection. == Career timeline ==

Source: • 1933, June: joined Newsstand Publications (aka Graham Publications) to edit Romantic Love Secrets • 1934, July: after Romantic Love Secrets folds, joins Munsey as Amita Fairgrieve's asst. ed. on All-Story Magazine, a love pulp • 1936, March 11: spoke at Brooklyn's First Presbyterian Church on "Religion and Magazine Fiction" • 1939, October: editor of Munsey's new pulp Famous Fantastic Mysteries; it lasts until June 1953 with Gnaedinger editing • 1940, May: adds Fantastic Novels to her responsibilities • 1940, October: adds Sea Novel Magazine to her responsibilities; it folds after two issues • 1941, April: Fantastic Novels combined with Famous Fantastic Mysteries, i.e., cancelled • 1941, May: takes over Crack-Shot Western; it folds after October issue • 1941, October: adds Cowboy Movie Thrillers to her responsibilities; it lasts four issues • 1942, October: Popular Publications purchases Munsey magazines, retaining Gnaedinger • 1942, December: adds Love Novels Magazine to her responsibilities; it lasts until September 1954 • 1943, May: takes over air-pulp Battle Birds; it folds after May 1944 issue • 1948, March: Fantastic Novels is revived with Gnaedinger editing • 1948, October: adds Captain Zero to her responsibilities; it last three issues, November 1949 to March 1950 • 1951, July: adds .44 Western to her responsibilities • 1953, May: edits four titles, Love Novels, Detective Story, Rangeland Romance, 15 Range Romances ==References==