Berta Mills: Vintage Portrait from White, NY

This historical photograph features Berta Mills, an individual from White, New York. While the exact date of the image remains unrecorded, its a notable example of early 20th-century photography, captured by a photographer from the Bain News Service. Founded in the late 19th century, the Bain News Service was significant in documenting contemporary events and individuals, contributing to the visual history of the time. This image serves not just as a portrait but as a representation of everyday life and the individuals who shaped their communities during that era.

The photograph is a glass negative, a common medium used in photography during its early years, measuring 5 x 7 inches. Glass negatives offered distinct advantages for capturing fine details and producing high-quality images, making them a popular choice among photographers of the time. Berta Mills image, like many others in the Bain Collection, helps to build a visual record of personal identities and everyday experiences in American life, shedding light on a period that precedes the modern era of photography. As a historical document, this image contributes to research into the development of photographic techniques and how they intersected with the social fabric of early 20th-century America.