Wilson McCoy
| Robert Wilson McCoy | |
| |
| Biographical information | |
| Born: | April 6, 1902 |
|---|---|
| Died: | July 20, 1961 |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Occupation: | Artist |
| Website: | |
Wilson McCoy did not work on "Mandrake the Magician", but is included here for historical reasons.
Life and career
Family background
Edward Ferdinand McCoy (1865-1913) and Theodocia Elizabeth Turnbull (1867-1937) married[1] May 23, 1886, in Batchtown. Calhoun County, Illinois. Edward worked as a (traveling) dealer in musical instruments. He and Theodocia had 7 children together, Verlie Edna (1887–1957), Lavoyd Fernand (1890–1943), Otie Lorraine (1891–1946), Dorothy Jane (1897–1986), Edward Hamilton Newton (1899–1942), Robert Wilson (1902–1961) and Horace Turnbull (1905–1969).
About the time Robert Wilson was born the family was living in Troy, before the family settled in St. Louis. They first lived in 1724 Glasgow Avenue, then in 1918 Coleman Street and next in 4713 Cottage Avenue. After the death of Edward the family moved to 5130 Cates Avenue and next to 5598 Etzel avenue.
Early career and personal life
To help out the family Wilson took[2] a job working in a drug store when he was 12 years old. After two years in hight school he became an errand boy for the D'Arcy Advertising Agency[footnotes 1], and by 1920 he worked[3] as an artist for the same agency. According[4] to a short biography, McCoy was associated with D'Arcy for four years, and then worked for General Outdoor Adverticing Co. in St. Louis and Chicago the next five years.
McCoy is mentioned as one of the student at the School of Fine Arts, Washington University, in the year 1923-24[5]. So, in the beginning his work for General Outdoor Adverticing were likely after school.
At the Washington University he met Dorothy May Rainwater[footnotes 2]. Interesting, both awarded[6] 5$ each in a Tangled Comic competition in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in January 1925. They announced[7][footnotes 3] their engagement in June 1925 and they married[8] on September 12 1925, telling they would reside in Chicago. Wilson McCoy study one more year[9] (1925-26) at the Washington University, also serving as the president of The Art School Association. Even though Dorothy was a student[10] at at the School of Fine Arts she is only mentioned one time[11] in the Hatchet yearbooks 1923-1926, as assistant at the annual Art School Bazaar, in 1926: Hell's Kitchen.
Autumn 1926 Wilson attended[2] the American Academy of Art[footnotes 4]. Ulf Granberg[12] wrote that Wilson went to Chicago with seven dollars in his pocket, and that he immediately got a job[footnotes 5]. It is unknow if Dorothy went with him to Chicago. She was pregnant and gave birth to their son, Robert Wilson, in St. Louis on February 3, 1927.
Wilson most likely graduated in 1927 and start working full time in St. Louis. There exist an ad for an YNCA cource[footnotes 6] in Drawing and Illustrating. This ad has a short biography[footnotes 7],[footnotes 8] presenting R. Wilson McCoy as the instructor.
In 1929 WIlson was[13] referred to as a well-known St. Louis artist when he was presented as one of three judges in a newspaper competition.
Studio work and personal life
Note
- ↑ located at: 4th fl Missouiri Life Bldg, 1501 Locust
- ↑ (Nov 19, 1905-Feb 16, 1991) daugther of Bertram Aaron Rainwater and May Belle Petree
- ↑ In the text it is said that Wilson McCoy was the President of the The Art School Association (year 1924-25), but according to the Hatchet yearbook it was Harry Spear!
- ↑ Started in 1923 and located at the Kimball Building, 306 s Wabash Ave, Chicago
- ↑ at General Outdoor Adverticing Co. in Chicago?
- ↑ located at Sixteenth and Locust Streets, St. Louis
- ↑ In the text it is said that Wilson McCoy was the President of the The Art School Association year of 1924, but according to the Hatchet yearbook it was Arthur Krause!
- ↑ This ad is printed without mentioning the year, but mention that the first session was on Wedensday 26 September, and that was in 1928
References
- ↑ ancestry.com: Illinois, Marriage Index, 1860-1920
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Granberg, Ulf. "Wilson McCoy", Stora jubileumsboken, Semic Press (1975)
- ↑ ancestry.com: Federal Census 1910
- ↑ Ad for a course in Drawing and Illustrating (1928)
- ↑ The Hatchet, Yearbook 1924 Washington University, p 167
- ↑ "Winners of Tenth Tangled Comic Competition", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 18 Jan 1925, p 39
- ↑ "Two out-of-town weddings of week of interest here", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri), 14 Jun 1925, p 34
- ↑ "Recent engagements and weddings", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 13 Sep 1925, p 31
- ↑ The Hatchet, Yearbook 1926 Washington University, p 123 and 629
- ↑ "Annual Costume Ball of Students in the St. Louis School of Fine Arts", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 24 Feb 1924, p 114
- ↑ The Hatchet, Yearbook 1926 Washington University, p 625
- ↑ PhantomWiki: Ulf Granberg
- ↑ "100 woderful prizes for teh 100 best colored sketches of the new St. Louis Diary Gold Medal Ice Cream packages", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) 03 Nov 1929, p 122