Zhenya Gay, born Eleanor Byrnes, was a famous childrens book illustrator and animal lover. She was also the long time companion and lover of Helen Reitman, aka Jan Gay. The couple met in about 1927 and began collaborating on children's books in 1930. Eleanor briefly took Helen's surname of Reitman as her own before the couple changed both of their names to Jan and Zhenya Gay in about 1929. They lived together in New York until at least 1933 and established a nudist colony together in Highlands, New York.
Ship Manifests
SS Mexico from Tampico, Mexico to New York - May 21-31, 1927
Reitman, Helen - 24, single, born February 14, 1902, father US Citizen, 225 W 34 Street, New York
Byrnes Reitman, Eleanor - 25, single, born September 16, 1901 in Norwood, Mass., 225 W 34 Street, New York
SS American Farmer from London to New York - Oct 17-27, 1930
Gay, Jan - 28, single, nat thru American parents, 147 East 34th St, NYC
Gay, Zhenya - 26, single, born Norwood, Mass Sept 16, 1904, 147 East 34th St., NYC
SS Bremen from Bremen to New York - Sept 15-21, 1931
Gay, Jan - 29, single, passport 128037, 52 Gramercy Park, North New York
Gay, Zhenya - 26, single, born September 16, 1901 in Norwood, Mass., 52 Gramercy Park, North New York
SS Jamaica from Puerto Limon, Costa Rica to New York June 22-30, 1940
Gay, Zhenya - 38, female, born Sept 16, 1901 in Norwood, Mass., 121 West 67th St., New York City
Census Records
303 North Grove St., East Orange, Essex, New Jersey - April 15, 1910
| Surname | Given | Relation | Race | Age | Status | Kids | Born | Father Born | Mother Born | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byrnes | Charles U? | head | W | 49 | married | . | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | store manager |
| Byrnes | Alice B. | wife | W | 47 | married | 1 | New York | Massachusetts | New York | none |
| Byrnes | Eleanor F. | daughter | W | 8 | single | . | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | New York | none |
| Smith | Sarah E. | mother-in-law | W | 56 | widow | 3, 2 living | New York | New York | New York | none |
| Talbot | Ida | servant | B | 21 | single | . | South Carolina | South Carolina | South Carolina | housework |
1230 Amsterdam Ave., Whittier Hall, Columbia University, Manhattan, New York - Jan 1920
| Surname | Given | Relation | Age | Status | Born | Father born | Mother born | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byrnes | Eleanor | lodger | 18 | single | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | New York | the Arts |
Vital Records
Social Security Death Index
- Zhenya Gay
- Born: September 16, 1901
- Died: August 1978 in Saugerties, Ulster, NY
- Last Benefit: Kingston, Ulster, NY
- SS Issued: NY in 1951
- SSN: 091-26-7343
