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Yes, Roger Nash Baldwin, the co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), was descended from a prominent New England family with strong ties to the Puritan tradition.

Here's a more detailed look at his background:

Family Background:

Baldwin was born in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, into an affluent and socially active New England family. His family had a history of involvement in social reform and activism.

Puritan Roots:

His family's history in New England, particularly in Massachusetts, strongly suggests Puritan roots, as the region was heavily influenced by Puritan settlers.

Social Reformist Lineage:

Baldwin's uncle, William Henry, served as director of the National Child Labor Committee, and his aunt, Ruth Standish Bowles, helped found the National Urban League, further highlighting his family's involvement in social reform.

Oral History:

In his extensive oral history interview, Roger Baldwin recounts his background of being born on January 21st, 1884, and raised in a wealthy Massachusetts family with a proud reformist lineage.

Pacifist and Reformist:

Baldwin himself was a well-known pacifist, social worker, and civil libertarian, reflecting the reformist values of his family.

Education:

Baldwin attended Harvard University.

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Yes, Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, was a descendant of William Bradford, the Puritan governor of the Plymouth Colony, through his father's line.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Puritan Roots:

Hefner often spoke about his upbringing in a "repressed Midwestern Methodist home" and described his parents as "conservative, Midwestern, [and] Methodist".

Descendant of William Bradford:

He specifically stated that his father was a descendant of William Bradford, the Puritan governor of the Plymouth Colony.

Playboy as a Reaction:

Hefner himself suggested that his creation of Playboy was, in part, a reaction to his own Puritan upbringing and the perceived repression he experienced.

Methodist Background:

Hefner's parents were Nebraska-born Methodists who later moved to Chicago.
Hefner's own words
"Playboy from the very beginning has been a very personal magazine, and I think that it is a direct result of my response to my own Puritan upbringing. My parents are - or were typically Midwestern Methodist Puritans, and our roots go all the way back to William Bradford and the Pilgrims."