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Carl Hild, PhD's avatar

Evan, this is a great article and really expands the life of Jan Gay. Thank you. You mention that her father was Ben Reitman who had a relationship with Emma Goldman. Emma started a progressive school in NYC and had Abby and John Russell Coryell as instructors. Students took co-ed physical education in the nude. John Russell Coryell is reported by a number of nudist pioneers as being the "father of American nudism." Coryell's grandson had memories of Emma visiting their lakeside home not too far north of NYC and going skinny-dipping. Perhaps Jan received some seeding for her nudist interests through her father, Emma, and the Coryells.

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Caroline Osella's avatar

Thank you so much for this work! Super cool.

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