Ilsley Boone
Encyclopedia
The Rev. Ilsley Boone "Uncle Danny" (Born 1879 Brooklyn, NY; Died 1968 Whitehouse, OH) was a charismatic speaker and powerful organizer and is the father of the American Association for Nude Recreation
(AANR), then called the American Sunbathing Association (ASA).
Little is known of Boone's early life. He graduated from Brown University
in 1904, followed by the Newton Theological Institute three years later. Boone was originally ordained
as a Baptist
, but in 1921 became pastor of the Church of the Ponds (Dutch Reformed) in Oakland, New Jersey
.
Kurt Barthel
had formed the American League for Physical Culture (ALPC), America's first nudist organization in 1930. A year and a half later, Boone became the ALPC’s Executive Secretary. Barthel soon asked him to take his place as president of the organization.
In 1931, Boone opened Sunshine Park in Mays Landing, New Jersey
(near Atlantic City), and established the ASA national headquarters there. As a stickler to Barthel’s original ideals and behavior guidelines, Uncle Danny tightly controlled the management of each new club, and mandated the full natural regimen of abstinence
, calisthenics
, mandatory nudity (rain or shine), as well as vegetarianism
for all club members and their guests.
Boone began producing the first nudist magazine in the U.S., The Nudist, in 1933, and later, Sunshine & Health under the Sunshine Publishing Company. Even with the genitals airbrushed out of the photos, the U.S. Postal Service decided the materials were obscene and couldn't be distributed through the U.S. mail. This fight was taken all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the Rev. Boone ultimately won the right to distribute nudist materials through the mail. This victory paved the way for not only legitimate nudist magazines and materials but also some of the more seedy versions and, eventually, Hugh Hefner
's Playboy
Empire.
By August 1951, Boone had been voted out as president of the ASA. A dozen years later, his Sunshine Publishing Company was out of business as well. Nearly broke, Boone spent the remainder of his years living in the Ohio home of National Nudist Council member Edith Church. He died on Thanksgiving Day in 1968.
American Association for Nude Recreation
The American Association for Nude Recreation is a nudist organization in the United States. Founded in 1931, the organization advocates nudity and nude recreation in appropriate settings. The AANR charters approximately 259 independent U.S. nudist resorts and parks...
(AANR), then called the American Sunbathing Association (ASA).
Little is known of Boone's early life. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1904, followed by the Newton Theological Institute three years later. Boone was originally ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
as a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, but in 1921 became pastor of the Church of the Ponds (Dutch Reformed) in Oakland, New Jersey
Oakland, New Jersey
Oakland is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,754.Oakland was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1902, from portions of Franklin Township.-History:The Van Allen House...
.
Kurt Barthel
Kurt Barthel
Kurt Barthel is the father of the modern United States nudist movement. He began the American League for Physical Culture in 1929 with an ad, first in the leading German nudist magazines published in Berlin by Robert Laurer "Lichtland" and "Lachendes Leben" , then later in a newspaper seeking...
had formed the American League for Physical Culture (ALPC), America's first nudist organization in 1930. A year and a half later, Boone became the ALPC’s Executive Secretary. Barthel soon asked him to take his place as president of the organization.
In 1931, Boone opened Sunshine Park in Mays Landing, New Jersey
Mays Landing, New Jersey
Mays Landing is a census-designated place located within Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 2,321. It is the county seat of Atlantic County...
(near Atlantic City), and established the ASA national headquarters there. As a stickler to Barthel’s original ideals and behavior guidelines, Uncle Danny tightly controlled the management of each new club, and mandated the full natural regimen of abstinence
Teetotalism
Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal...
, calisthenics
Calisthenics
Calisthenics are a form of aerobic exercise consisting of a variety of simple, often rhythmical, movements, generally using multiple equipment or apparatus. They are intended to increase body strength and flexibility with movements such as bending, jumping, swinging, twisting or kicking, using...
, mandatory nudity (rain or shine), as well as vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
for all club members and their guests.
Boone began producing the first nudist magazine in the U.S., The Nudist, in 1933, and later, Sunshine & Health under the Sunshine Publishing Company. Even with the genitals airbrushed out of the photos, the U.S. Postal Service decided the materials were obscene and couldn't be distributed through the U.S. mail. This fight was taken all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the Rev. Boone ultimately won the right to distribute nudist materials through the mail. This victory paved the way for not only legitimate nudist magazines and materials but also some of the more seedy versions and, eventually, Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
's Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
Empire.
By August 1951, Boone had been voted out as president of the ASA. A dozen years later, his Sunshine Publishing Company was out of business as well. Nearly broke, Boone spent the remainder of his years living in the Ohio home of National Nudist Council member Edith Church. He died on Thanksgiving Day in 1968.
Books
- Life Among Lobsters (1902)
- The Conquering Christ (1909-1910) (with separate student manual)
- The Senior Teacher (1910)
- The Joys of Nudism (1934)
- The ABC of Nudism: An illustrated handbook on the movement in America, its practice and philosophy (1934)
- Why Nudism: What contribution can the American nudist movement make to happier human lives? (1949)
- Evolutionary Psychology: Hints as to Its Factors, Importance, Uses, and Resulting Changes for Our Whole Social Order (co-authored with Theodore Schroeder, 1949)
Periodicals
- College Hill Verse: Being selections from student publications of Brown University 1894-1904 (editor, 1904)
- The Nudist (1933-1963)
- Sunshine & Health (1933-1963)
See also
- Christian naturismChristian naturismChristian naturists are Christians found in most branches and denominations of Christianity who practice naturism or nudism. They find no conflict between the teachings of the Bible and living their lives and worshiping God without any clothing, believing that covering the body leads to its...
- Clothes free organizations
- List of public outdoor clothes free places
- NaturismNaturismNaturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
- Public nudityPublic nudityPublic nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place. It also includes nudity in a semi-public place, where the general public is free to enter, such as a shopping mall...
- Skinny dippingSkinny dippingNude swimming, colloquially called skinny dipping, is a term used to describe swimming naked.-Etymology:The term skinny dip, first recorded in English in the 1950s, includes the somewhat archaic word skinny, known since 1573, meaning "having to do with skin", as it exposed the naked...
- The Naturist SocietyThe Naturist SocietyThe Naturist Society is a national naturist organization based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. It publishes a quarterly periodical called Nude & Natural which documents and coordinates naturist activities and provides information about issues related to naturism. The Naturist Society was established...