54
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(NUDISM ARCHIVE)
Outstanding collection of photographs, albums, letters, and ephemera tracing the lives of a husband
and wife who were life-long nudists.Approximately 1,700 photographs, mostly silver prints with some
Polaroids and color prints, sizes ranging from 2x3 to 8x10 inches (5.1x7.6 to 20.3x25.4 cm.), depicting
Lyman and Affie Barry and friends hiking, tree climbing, playing Scrabble, swimming, camping, eating,
relaxing, and taking photographs.Three 4to leatherette albums, 10 binders with photographs in archival
sleeves, and various ephemera including address books, Eastern Sunbathing Association newsletters,
news clippings, correspondence, and ID cards. 1920s-1990s
[5,500/7,500]
Captain Lyman F. Barry and his wife Affie were part of the pioneering generation of nudists in America. Lyman
was from New Jersey and fought inWWII; his military diaries are archived at the New Jersey Historical Society.
While many nudist organizations
used professional photographers, this is
a fine example of amateur photographs
taken by someone intimately familiar
with the members of the movement.
Most of the activities depicted are
standard and casual, but some poses
give hints that Lyman and Affie were
likely bisexual and possibly swingers.
Seeing a person nude at 20 years
of age, at 90, and everywhere in
between, is quite unusual, and this
unique collection captures many of
the moments of the Barrys’
fascinating lifestyle.
