New York Society for the Suppression of Vice
New York Society for the Suppression of Vice
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The symbol of the Society.
The New York Society for the Suppression of Vice (NYSSV or SSV) was founded in 1873 by Anthony Comstock and his supporters in the Young Men’s Christian Association. It was chartered by the New York state legislature. After his death in 1915, Comstock was succeeded by John S. Sumner.[1] In 1947, the organization’s name was changed to the Society to Maintain Public Decency.[2] After Sumner’s retirement in 1950, the organization was dissolved. The New York Society for the Suppression of Vice is not to be confused with its namesake, the earlier, 19th century Society for the Suppression of Vice. The NYSSV was an institution dedicated to supervising the morality of the public. Its specific mission was to monitor compliance with state laws and work with the courts and district attorneys in bringing offenders to justice. It and its members also pushed for additional laws against perceived immoral conduct. While the NYSSV is better remembered for its opposition to literary works, it also closely monitored the news-stands, commonly found on city sidewalks and in transportation terminals, which sold the popular magazines of the day.