1926 Portrait of Business Visionary H.G. Selfridge Jr.

The photograph captures H.G. Selfridge Jr., a notable figure in American business during the early 20th century. Selfridge was known for being the son of Harry Gordon Selfridge, the famous founder of Selfridges, an iconic department store in London. Born in 1893, H.G. Jr. became involved in various business ventures, including investments in retail and real estate. This particular image, taken on March 31, 1926, comes from the Bain News Service, a prominent early news photography organization that provided visual coverage of significant individuals and events of the time.

The glass negative is a glimpse into an era where news photography was a burgeoning field, documenting important figures like Selfridge. Images like this are essential for understanding the visual culture of the 1920s, a decade marked by economic growth and social change in the United States. The meticulous work of the Bain News Service helped shape public perceptions of people and their contributions to society, making historical figures like H.G. Selfridge Jr. more relatable and recognizable to the everyday citizen.