1910s Portrait of an Elegant Couple in Love

This historical photograph features Maurice Egan and his wife, taken between 1910 and 1915. Maurice Egan, a notable figure in early 20th-century American literature and education, served as the U.S. Commissioner of Education from 1906 to 1909. His work focused on public education reform, advocating for improvements in educational practices and policies that benefitted the youth of America during a time of significant societal change. The image serves as a glimpse into the personal life of a man deeply involved in shaping educational standards and practices in the United States.

Captured by a photographer from the Bain News Service, this photograph uses the glass negative method, which was a standard photographic process in the early 1900s. Glass negatives were prized for their clarity and detail and allowed photographers to create high-quality prints. The meticulous process involved coating a glass plate with photo-sensitive emulsion, making it a labor-intensive but rewarding technique for capturing the moments of everyday life. Maurice Egan’s portrait, alongside his wife, reflects not only the personal aspects of his life but also the social context of the period, highlighting the intersection of family and professional commitment during a transformative era in American history.