McKinley, William. C.M. Bell Studio, Washington DC

William McKinley (January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 25th President of the United States from March 4, 1897, until his assassination in September 1901, six months into his second term. McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War. He promoted the tariffs to protect manufacturers from foreign competition, and in 1900, he secured the passage of the Gold Standard Act. He led the nation in the Spanish–American War of 1898: the U.S. victory was quick and decisive. "The mission of the United States is one of benevolent assimilation."

C. M. Bell Studio of photographic portraits worked in Washington DC from 1873 until 1916. Charles Milton Bell (1848-1893) was one of Washington's leading portrait photographers. His studio became known for its large collection of portraits of Washington notables, including politicians, leading businessmen and educators, embassy officials and distinguished visitors from other countries, church leaders, athletes and entertainers, and members of Washington's black middle class. The Library of Congress C. M. Bell Studio Collection comprises of over 25,000 glass plate negatives.

Charles Milton Bell was an American photographer who was noted for his portraits of Native Americans and other figures of the United States in the late 1800s. He was called "one of Washington's leading portrait photographers during the last quarter of the nineteenth century" by the Library of Congress. Bell enjoyed a congenial business relationship with the Grover Cleveland administration and made many portraits of Cleveland's bride, Frances Folsom Cleveland, after their marriage, as well as portraits at the second Cleveland inauguration.