Portrait of a Pivotal 20th Century Politician

This historical photograph depicts Geo. V. Hobart, a notable figure in American politics during the early 20th century. He served as the 26th Vice President under President William McKinley and later Teddy Roosevelt from 1899 to 1901. Hobart, a lawyer by profession, had a significant impact on New Jerseys political landscape and was a prominent member of the Republican Party. His tenure as Vice President was marked by his strong support for corporate interests and economic expansion during a time of rapid industrial growth in the United States.

Captured by Bain News Service, this glass negative reflects the early era of photojournalism, offering a glimpse into the means of documenting political figures before the advent of modern photography. Although the exact date of this image remains unrecorded, it serves as a reminder of the evolving techniques in capturing moments that shape history. Beyond just an image of Hobart, it represents a turning point in how we archive and remember influential leaders and their roles in shaping policies that affected millions of Americans during a transformative period in U.S. history.