Photographic Images

39256, Homosexual Female, artist unknown, ca. 1920. This early twentieth-century photograph of
two women is one example from the extensive collection of over 3,500 photographs representing homosexuality in the institute's documentary collection.

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53721, Male Wrestlers, Western Photography Guild, 1955. Although images of male body builders were introduced to the public in 1908 with the monthly publication Physical Culture, they were not widely popular until the 1930s. During the 1950s, physique magazines gained popularity and provided a significant forum for gay culture. The Western Photography Guild, based in Denver, Colorado, was noted for its production of images of muscle-bound men in juxtaposition with the mountainous landscape.

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56643, Medical, American Optometrical Co., 1948. This photograph of sperm, made using a microscope, is part of the medical category of the Kinsey Institute documentary collection. The small size of the medical category may surprise contemporary researchers. However, the institute's photography collection was amassed to support the scientific understanding of human sexual practices. As a result, such representations were not as sought after as photographs that encompassed behavioral aspects of sexuality.

Note: The numbers and boldfaced titles are part of the Kinsey Institute's collections categorization system.

Credits