Commercialized Prostitution in New York City

"Commercialized Prostitution in New York City" by George J. Kneeland is a historical account published in the early 20th century. This work provides a thorough examination of the prevailing conditions of prostitution in New York City during 1912. It explores the various vice resorts, the nature of the prostitution business, and the socioeconomic factors surrounding it, highlighting the exploitation involved. The beginning of the book introduces the reader to the Bureau of Social Hygiene, which commissioned this study in response to the white slave trade investigations in 1910. With an introduction by John D. Rockefeller Jr., the text outlines the Bureau's aim to create a permanent organization that could address the social problems related to vice. Kneeland details the research methods employed, including direct visits to numerous parlor houses, which are specifically examined in the opening chapters. He meticulously describes various establishments involved in prostitution, their management, and the socioeconomic dynamics at play, setting a serious tone for the comprehensive investigation of commercialized vice.