Affectionate men

In Affectionate Men, photographic collector Russell Bush has assembled an album of images—daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, cartes-de-visite, cabinet cards, and ordinary Kodak prints—that form an idiosyncratic record of the affection between men, from the 1850's to the 1950's.

The earliest daguerreotypes in the book was made in America around 1850- an image frozen in time long before the invention of the automobile, telephone, radio, or airplane. Over a period of one hundred years, we can see the changing styles in clothes, hair, and attitudes, but what remains constant is the expression of affection and love between these men. Some may be gay, others assuredly not, but whatever the relationship, these images celebrate Walt Whitman's "dear love of comrades."

Russell Bush, former fashion designer turned haut decorator, remains modern in spite of a penchant for the past. Born, raised and schooled in Pennsylvania, he now lives in New York City. He is well traveled, on the path to being well read, and remains elegant despite the extravagant number of books with which he lives. This is the first one he can truly call his own.

Ron Lieberman is an award-winning illustrator, designer, and university educator. His illustrations and logo designs have appeared on Broadway posters, CD covers, book jackets, and in many other he leading magazines in America. Affectionate Men is his first complete book design. He lives and works in New York City.