Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s-1950s

Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell found a 1920s vintage photo of two men embracing and gazing at one another--clearly in love. They were intrigued that the men posed for the photo during a time when they would have been even less understood than today. They bought the photo from a Dallas, Texas antique shop. Hugh and Neal began searching for similar photos in their travels around the United States, Canada, and Europe. They found photos of male couples openly showing their relationships that were as old as the art of photography. Their collection eventually included more than 2,700 images from 70 to 170 years old. Those photos are featured in their book, Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s-1950s. In conversation with Associate Professor Kelly Winfrey, Hugh and Neal will share their journey and how their book reminds us that love is timeless.

Dr. Kelly L. Winfrey became Interim Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program in August 2022. She is also an associate professor and Director of Graduate Education in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Her research focuses on gender and political campaign communication. She published Understanding How Women Vote: Gender Identity and Political Choices in 2018.

The ISU Book Store will not be selling copies of "Loving" at the lecutre. The book can be purchased online by clicking here.

This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page.