Websites > AANR Western Region
| Name: | Kurt Barthel (1884–1969): Father of the Modern United States Nudist Movement |
| Authors: | Price, Beverly B. |
| Published Date: | 2 Jul. 2020 |
| Indexed Date: | 9 Dec. 2021 |
| Web Link: | https://aanrwest.org/media/attachments/2020/07/02/kurt-barthel.pdf |
| Index Status: | Complete |
| Original Language: | English |
| Genre: | Non-Fiction |
| Citation: | Price, Beverly. “Kurt Barthel (1884–1969): Father of the Modern United States Nudist Movement.” AANR Western Region, 2 Jul. 2020, p. 1, https://aanrwest.org/media/attachments/2020/07/02/kurt-barthel.pdf |
Summary
Nudism in North America initially began following the European model, with small social clubs meeting discretely. After organizing a nudist outing in 1929, the American League for Physical Culture was formed and opened a permanent site in New York, leading to a surge in membership. Despite facing police raids, the nudist movement gained unexpected publicity and growth after the group was acquitted in court, but its future direction shifted with the emergence of a new leader.