Perry Belmont & Wife: Captured Elegance, 1916

This photograph features Perry Belmont and his wife, Aug. Belmont, captured on May 13, 1916, by the Bain News Service. Perry Belmont, a prominent figure in American politics and society, served as a U.S. Congressman from New York and was known for his involvement in various civic organizations. His wife, Aug., shared in this public life, contributing to the social fabric of the era. The image provides a glimpse into the lives of these influential individuals during the Progressive Era, a time marked by significant social reform, political activism, and the push for womens rights.

Taken as part of a series of glass plate negatives commonly used in news photography at the time, this image is not just a portrait but a historical document. The Bain News Service, which specialized in photographs for newspapers and magazines, captured many notable events and personalities of the early twentieth century. Each glass negative hearkens back to a period where photography was evolving rapidly, becoming an essential medium for storytelling and recording history. The Belmonts’ portrayal in this photograph allows us to reflect on the roles of public figures and the societal changes they witnessed and contributed to in the early 1900s.