This above image published on Shorpy’s archival photo blog back in 2007 just came across my radar thanks to UMW über-librarian Jack Bales. Below is the description:
June 30, 1922. Washington policeman Bill Norton measuring the distance between knee and suit at the Tidal Basin bathing beach after Col. Sherrill, Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds, issued an order that suits not be over six inches above the knee.
After a quick search I realized you can see a number of bathing suit arrests back in the day. While searching around a bit more I found this image of a bathing mask that’s nothing short of disturbing:
This is the stuff of horror film legend! Who knew swimwwear had such a checkered and frightening past?