Scope and Contents
This material consists primarily of books, clippings, advertisements, and images relating to sex for the general public. Though the materials span nearly two hundred years, the bulk of the material is from the late 19th century.
Series 1, Sex Health, 1892–1943, includes some books on sex health and heredity. There are also materials pertaining to contraception and sexual hygiene. These materials pertain to both women and men's health and range from scholarly treatises to advertisements for contraceptive methods and feminine hygiene products.
Series 2, Images, undated, contains advertisements, lithographs, and photographic images relating to sex. The bulk of the images are depictions of nude women, including two different postcards. There are no nude pictures of men included in this series.
Series 3, Prostitution, 1938; undated, contains mostly undated materials relating to prostitution. Most of the materials are advertisements from establishments offering prostitution services. There is also an article written by a prostitute for Ken magazine (1938).
Series 4, Sex and the Law, 1836–1867, contains materials relating to sex and the law. There are pamphlets addressing blue laws and prostitution. Woman and homosexual suffrage are also topics addressed in these materials.
Series 5, Transexuals, 1750–1829, contains one image and one newspaper clipping about men transforming themselves into women. There is also a small story about a woman who masqueraded as a man and married another woman and a drawing of this woman.
Series 6, Sex Humor, 1940; undated, contains some jokes and humorous stories relating to sex. Most of the material appears to date from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Some of these materials may be considered risqué or offensive.
