Anthony Comstock
Anthony Comstock (March7, 1844 – September21, 1915) was an American anti-vice activist,
United States Postal Inspector, and secretary of the
New York Society for the Suppression of Vice (NYSSV), who was dedicated to upholding
Christian morality. He opposed
obscene literature,
abortion,
contraception,
masturbation,
gambling,
prostitution, and
patent medicine. The terms ''comstockery'' and ''comstockism'' refer to his extensive
censorship campaign of materials that he considered obscene, including
birth control advertised or sent by mail. He used his positions in the
U.S. Postal Service and the NYSSV (in association with the New York police) to make numerous arrests for obscenity and gambling. Besides these pursuits, he was also involved in efforts to suppress
fraudulent banking schemes, mail swindles, and
medical quackery.
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