Prior to the election of female Councillor's and Mayors, the Mayoress role as wife of the Mayor, was one of the few ways women could officially undertake civic duties. Mayoress's played an important role in civic life through charity work, even stepping in on occasions to undertake Mayoral duties. Mayoress Niemann was born Ethel Emily May Harding in 1880 in Geelong and died in Canberra in 1959.Framed, oval photographic portraits with convex glass and print, created using a collodion wet plate process. Hand coloured detail.Verso; signed Vincent Kelly 1ethel harding, mayoress niemann, mayor niemann, vincent kelly photographer, city of bendigo, city of greater bendigo portraits