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House of Representatives “Gym”

Black and white photograph of Albert Vestal, Fred Britten, Fred Purnell, and Sydney Anderson posing in a room with gym equipment. Vestal holds dumbbells, Britten wears boxing gloves, Purnell sits in a rowing machine, and Anderson uses a weight pulley system. On the wall are rows of dumbbells and clubs, and two fencing foils./tiles/collection/1/10636.xml
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Reverse of photograph with maker’s information and caption reading, “House of Representatives ‘gym.’ Four members of the House of Representatives ready for a half hour in the newly equipped House ‘gym.’ Reading from left to right they are Representatives, Vestal of Indiana, Britten of Ill., Purnell of Maine, and Anderson of Minnesota.” Handwritten text reads, “Not Sport.”/tiles/collection/1/10637.xml
Download this image
Black and white photograph of Albert Vestal, Fred Britten, Fred Purnell, and Sydney Anderson posing in a room with gym equipment. Vestal holds dumbbells, Britten wears boxing gloves, Purnell sits in a rowing machine, and Anderson uses a weight pulley system. On the wall are rows of dumbbells and clubs, and two fencing foils.
Reverse of photograph with maker’s information and caption reading, “House of Representatives ‘gym.’ Four members of the House of Representatives ready for a half hour in the newly equipped House ‘gym.’ Reading from left to right they are Representatives, Vestal of Indiana, Britten of Ill., Purnell of Maine, and Anderson of Minnesota.” Handwritten text reads, “Not Sport.”
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Date

1920-04-21

Maker

National Photo Company

Dimensions

8 × 10 in. (20.3 × 25.4 cm)

Accession Number

PA2014.09.0045

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

In this 1920 photo, Representatives Albert Vestal, Fred Britten, Fred Purnell, and Sydney Anderson pose in the House Gym. Members used the punching bags, rowing machines, dumbbells, and steam room to stay fit. Boxing gloves and fencing foils also gave Members a way to work out their competitive aggression. After complaints that Congressmen were getting into brawls in the Capitol, Representative Florence Kahn suggested that “if they want to fight it would be a good idea for them to go to the gymnasium and have it out like men should.”

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov