swimtrunks

Most likely Hermann Gässler (1889 - 1970), German weightlifter and wrestler (the "L" in the original caption is crossed out), see books.google.ch/books?id=9GkTAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Hermann+G%... He won the bronze medal in the 4th tournament, heavyweight of the 1911 World Weightlifting Championships and the fourth place in the Unofficial Wrestling World Championships 1911, Stuttgart in the category over 85 kg, according to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1911_World_Weightlifting_Championships de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inoffizielle_Ringer-Weltmeisterscha...

B-59: Thanks for the additional information here. We will add some of it to the description next time we update.

See also www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2496403653/ and www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2990278826/

As head of the New York Police Department's Detective Bureau, George S. Dougherty in 1912 cracked the Herman Rosenthal murder case, which led to the conviction and execution of the Lenox Avenue Gang. Here is his Wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Dougherty

the finest of the fine this country has to offer, right? wonder whose sons they were.

Currently, the sport of this "varsity line-up" is unlisted. Judging from the dock and what might be oars at bottom left, this might be Yale's crew team.

Yes, this is the dock in front of the Yale boathouse in Gales Ferry, CT.
It's still there. I grew up there.

I take it that the jockstrap hadn't yet been invented...

See for another photo at same time and place.