Empowering Female Activist, Early 20th Century

This photograph captures Helen J. Owen, a significant figure from the early 20th century, during the pivotal years of 1917 or 1918. As a notable activist, Owen played a role in advocating for womens rights and suffrage, contributing to the broader movement that culminated in the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote in the United States. Her presence in this image reflects a time when women were increasingly stepping into public life, pushing for social changes that would reshape American society.

The image, produced by the Bain News Service, is an example of the early photographic techniques that used glass negatives. This specific method allowed for detailed imagery and has preserved many snapshots of history from this era. The Bain News Service, operational in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was known for its extensive documentation of newsworthy figures and events. Helen J. Owens portrayal stands as a representation of the voices that were emerging, and her commitment to advocating for change illustrates the collective movement that defined the suffrage campaign.