Early 20th-Century U.S. Congressman Portrait

This historical photograph features W. Alden Smith, a key figure in early 20th-century American politics. Smith served as a U.S. Congressman from Michigans 1st congressional district from 1919 until 1923. He was a member of the Republican Party and played a significant role in shaping legislative decisions during the post-World War I era, a time of considerable change and challenge in American society.

The image, produced by the Bain News Service, illustrates the eras evolving techniques in journalism and photography. Glass negatives were widely used for capturing images before the advent of more modern photographic processes. The Bain News Service was known for documenting important news stories and producing portraits of influential individuals, like Smith, making their images an invaluable resource for understanding the political landscape of the time.