Organized naturism at this time was called Freikorperkultur (Free Body Culture) in Germany.
German sociologist Heinrich Pudor, sometimes referred to as the "father of nudism", wrote "The Cult of the Nude" promoting naturism.
Shortly after, in 1903, Freilichtpark (Free Light Park) was the first know nudist park to be opened. Founder Paul Zimmerman opened the park near Hamburg, Germany, and was the first owner of an official nudist camp.
In 1929 the flow of German immigrants and tourists began bringing the roots and ideals of the naturist lifestyle to America.
It was their representation of the nude body that truly opened the American public's eyes to wholesome nudity without shame. Kurt Barthel, a German immigrant, founded the American League for Physical Culture.
Another key figure is Reverend Ilsley Boone, who is viewed as the first nudist leader in the United States.
The first nudist magazine, Gymnos, started print in 1921.
On Labor Day in 1929, Kurt Barthel met with 3 other couples in Peekskill, New York and began American Social Nudism.
Just a couple of months later, the American League for Physical Culture (ALPC) was founded on December 7,1929. The ALPC held their first meeting in a New York gym.
In just a few months the ALPC had over 50 members and also had a landed club in Spring Valley.
Mason and Frances Merrill often visited the New York facilities and began working on a new book title "Among the Nudists" which was released in 1931.
Also in 1931, Reverend Ilsley Boone was elected Vice President of the ALPC and also nicknamed "The Dictator".
Boone had big plans to build an American Camp like Kleinberg in Bavaria, but there, more drama in the world of commercial nudism would begin.