THE SHELF

Dating back to the late 19th century,  a number of anti-smoking advocacy groups  established themselves in the United States, such as the Massachusetts Anti-Cigaret(te) League and Lucy Page Gaston’s Anti-Cigarette League of America. The Massachusetts Anti-Cigarrette League, in particular, was instrumental in the passage of state laws banning the sale of cigarettes to minors.  In a 1900 school committee report,  the Massachusetts Anti-Cigarette League was commended for “the support of all who would protect our boys from contracting a habit that unfits them for school duties and that makes boys mean instead of manly”.  Massachusetts was not alone in the fight, 14 other states enacted laws banning the sale, manufacture, possession, or use of cigarettes, and 22 other states considered such legislation.   Eventually though, the anti-smoking movement fizzled and lost its grip on the political process.  Incidents such as when the governor of Massachusetts (who was also the VP of the Mass. Anti-Cigarette League) was caught smoking certainly did not help!

As part of it’s ongoing public campaign against tobacco, the Mass. Anti-Cigarette league produced postcards of studies, charts, and statistics to support their conviction that smoking was detrimental to one’s health and moral fiber.

College smokers and non-smokers

Description:

[Postcards depicting charts comparing physical condition and academic performance of college smokers with that of non-smokers]

Boston, Mass. : Massachusetts Anti-Cigaret League, [1912?].

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:4929743

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

….and the latest treatments for smoking and some success stories

The Kress treatment to help kick the habit

Description:

The Massachusetts Anti-Cigaret League has conducted a series of clinics administering the Kress Treatment as an aid to persons desiring to break off the cigaret habit. Boston : Massachusetts Anti-Cigaret League, [190-?].

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:4929746

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

…and from another organization, this discourse on smoking as a personal right vs a public nuisance.

Is it a public nuisance?

Description:

Abbott, Twyman O. Tobacco smoking :”Justifiable to suppress this most persistent nuisance by use of force” : a legal opinion, San Francisco, Cal., Feb. 21, 1912.

[New York? : s.n., 1912?].

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:4929750 

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

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