The Sunlight League was founded in England in 1924 by C. W. Saleeby. Its aim was: "to point to the light of day, to advocate its use for the cure of disease—"helio-therapy"; and, immeasurably better, for preventive medicine and constructive health, the building of whole and happy bodies from the cradle and before it, which we may call helio-hygiene".[1]
The League was closely associated with the Men's Dress Reform Party. It was also an early campaigner against air pollution from coal smoke.[2] Although the Sunlight League did not overtly promote nudism Saleeby did confide to friends that the idea behind it was to stimulate the nudist movement.[3]
The League was dissolved in 1940, following after a bomb destroyed their offices and the death of its founder, Dr. Saleeby.
New Zealand
editCora Wilding founded a Sunlight League in New Zealand in 1930. It is not known whether this was connected with the League in England.
References
edit- ^ "THE SUNLIGHT LEAGUE. » 16 May 1924 » The Spectator Archive". Archive.spectator.co.uk. 16 May 1924. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "THE SUNLIGHT LEAGUE. » 13 Jun 1924 » The Spectator Archive". Archive.spectator.co.uk. 13 June 1924. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Carr-Gomm, Philip (2012). A Brief History of Nakedness. Reaktion Books. pp. 160–. ISBN 978-1-86189-729-9.
