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Les origines (1870-1899)

Originaire de Philadelphie, John F. Byrnes vit à Denver, peu après son mariage. Il semble s'être installé à Chicago vers 1900 où il aurait rejoint "The Boswell Electric and Optical company :

NEW INCORPORATIONS
[...]
The Boswell Electic and Optical company, Chicago; capital, $10,000; manufacturing photographic apparatus and optical goods; incorporators, Daniel E. Boswell, John F. Byrnes and James Todd.

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Chicago Tribune, Chicago, samedi 10 février 1900, p. 14.

Le cinématographe (1900-1906)

Dès 1900, il collabore avec William Selig et prend en charge l'organisation de séances cinématographiques comme celle de Milwaukee en juillet. Il est également photographe à cette époque :

IS "ROOSEVELTED" ONCE MORE.
Corruptible Cabby Forces New York's Governor Before a Camera.
MILWAUKEE, July 19.-In connection with the visit here of Governor Roosevelt, John F. Byrnes, of Chicago, agent for William X. Selig, who came here to make arrangements for the cinematograph exhibition which is shortly to be given for the benefit of the firemen's relief fund told a good story on how he got the governor's picture at St. Paul this week.
"I went to him several times and asked him to pose for us, but he turned me down cold and told me that unless the national committee ordered it he would not pose," said Mr. Byrne. "Now, I went all the way to St. Paul to get him, and I did not like to come back empty-handed. I finally decided I would bribe the hack driver. I told him there was $5 in it for him if he would stop the carriage in front of my machine.
"I agreed with him that when I raised my cane he was to stop. As the carriage came down the street I waved my cane. The driver pulled his horses and the crowd cheered all the louder. While the governor was bowing and acknowledging the greeting my man was at work. Suddenly 'Teddy' saw me and the cane. He knew I had him, but too late. I motioned for the driver to go on, and Teddy's picture will be flashed all over the country."

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Fort Wayne Daily News, jeudi 19 juillet 1900, p. 1.

À peine quelques mois plus tard, il intègre la toute nouvelle Selig Polyscope Company de William N. Selig :

NEW ILLINOIS CORPORATIONS
[...]
Selig Polyscope company, Chicago: capital stock, $50,000: incorporators, William N. Selig, John F. Byrnes, and Thomas B. Mc Gregor.

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The Inter Ocean, Chicago, jeudi 22 novembre 1900, p. 8.

C'est dans ce nouveau cadre que John F. Byrnes va tenter d'organiser le tournage du match de boxe entre Tommy Ryan et Jack Root :

J. F. Byrnes, who is negotiating the match for the photographing concern, offers the purse and interest in the product under the stipulation that the battle take place in a sixteen-foot ring, this to insure rapid action. "I will find the place for the men to fight," said Mr. Byrnes last night. "All I ask is that the men come together and have it out, irrespective of gate receipits or spectators. I can see enough profit in exhibiting the pictures throughout the country, and am willing to offer $5,000 and give them half of the picture profits for the contest."

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The Inter Ocean, Chicago, lundi 31 décembre 1900, p. 4.

La famille est alors recensée (1900) à Chicago. Dès 1901, John F. Byrnes va collaborer avec George Kleine. Ce dernier passe un accord, le 20 mai 1901 avec l'Edison Manufacturing Company (Orange). Il s'agit de mettre à la disposition de Byrnes un appareil de prise de vues et des négatifs:

NOW, THEREFOR, it is agreed as follows:-
1. Said Edison Company agrees that it will furnish to said Kleine Company, for the use of said Byrnes, the Kinetographic camera and the negative film stock referred to in the sais agreement.
11. Said Kleine Company covenants and agrees that negative films made by said Byrnes and accepted by it shall be promptly forwarded to said Edison Company at Orange, N. J., and shall be and remain the property of said Edison Company.

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[D0128AAC], Agreement, Klein Optical Co, Edison Manufacturing Co, May 20th, 1901.

Ce contrat fait de John F. Byrnes un cinématographiste dont les vues animées ne sont pas connues, mais on peut penser qu'il est l'opérateur d'une partie du répertoire Edison pour l'année 1901 au moins. En 1902, John F. Byrnes crée sa propre société :

NEW INCORPORATIONS.
[...]
The John F. Byrnes company, Chicago; to manufacture photographer's supplies; capital, $10,000; Incorporators, Judson F. Going, Carl A. Vogel, and William A. Jennings.

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Chicago Tribune, Chicago, jeudi 13 mars 1902, p. 13.

Peu après, il va tourner des vues animées pour son entreprise :

THE MOVING PICTURES.
Colonel Morse is Receiving Letters from All Sections.
The moving picture scheme of Colonel Morse of the Southern Pacific has created widespread attention. The colonel is receiving letters every day from every section of the State regarding the matter. One of the letters received yesterday reads follows:
Colonel S. F. B. Morse. Passenger Traffic Manager T. & N. O. R. R. Houston, Texas.
The Beaumont Board of Trade, Beaumont, Texas, April 16, 1902. My Dear Colonel Morse: I notice with a great deal of interest the interview in this morning's Post relative to the proposed moving pictures to be secured from the John F. Byrnes company of New York and Chicago. My interest in the matter is accentuated by the fact that Mr. Nat Wetzel (president of the Wisconsin Dells company and also chairman of the Business Men's league of St. Louis, [Mo] has volunteered to take care of and show free of charge at the Wisconsin Dells State fair and other notable places any exhibit of Jefferson county products that we would get together for him. I am now engaged in working up an interest in the matter, and later on will make a collection of the different products, This idea of yours strikes me as being the very thing to add to this exhibit: and I would be exceedingly pleased if you will in your interviews with Mr. J. F. Byrnes, who, The Post states, is now in your city, to call his attention to this proposed exhibit of ours and put us in communication with him, with a view of our also securing his moving pictures, to be used in connection with our exhibit, which will be handled by Mr. Wetzel at the above places. Kindly asking your usual prompt attention, I am, with kindest regards, very truly ours,
A. D. Childress, Secretary.

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The Houston Post, Houston, vendredi 18 avril 1902, p. 10.

La nouvelle société obtient également la concession photographique à l'Exposition Universelle de Saint-Louis :

Photo Concession for Fair.
St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 4.-The photograph concession at the world's fair has been awarded to John F. Byrne & Co. of Chicago, of which firm Congressman Lorimet is a member. The concession is an important one and the officials figure it will be worth 20 per cent more than the concession at the Chicago fair, which was worth nearly $300,000.

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The Daily Review, Decatur, jeudi 4 décembre 1902, p. 1.

John F. Byrnes, afin de pouvoir saisir des vues aériennes, prend contact avec James F. Graham :

Balloon Photograhy.
John F. Byrnes, the official photographer, has just made arrangements with James F. Graham, of the Pain Pyro Co., for the use of the largest balloons of that company in taking birdseye views of the Exposition buildings and grounds. Mr. Byrnes will use an 11x17 inch plate in the work. The balloon is to be captive, raised and lowered by means of the windlass. The hydrogen gas. which will fill the balloon, is to be prepared on the grounds from iron filings and sulphuric aric, in a plant specially devised for the purpose.

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Aeronautical world, v. 1, nº 12, Glenville (Ohio), 1^er juillet 1903, p. 280.

John F. Byrnes va quitter Chicago dans les années à venir et s'installe dans la banlieue à Evanston. En 1906, il se lance dans un nouveau projet, avec la collaboration de George E. Spoor. Il s'agit de construire un nouveau théâtre :

Plan Theater.
Evanston, city of churches and headquarters of methodism, is to have a theater-a high-class play-house, where only the best attractions will be presented. It will be built at Church and Sherman streets, vill cost $75,000, and probably will be opened next September. The project is headed by George E. Spoor, 62 North Clark street, and John F. Byrnes, who was manager of a Pike attraction at the St. Louis exposition. Mr. Byrnes is to be president of the company, for which incorporation papers have been secured through Attorney E J. McArdie, and Mr. Spoor will be the manager of the theater.
"We intend to erect a three-story modern fireproof theater, to be devoted exclusively to high-class productions," sais Mr. Spoor yesterday. "We expect to have work begun by May 15."

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The Daily sun, Waukegan, vendredi 6 avril 1906, p. 4.

Et après... (1907-1930)

Installé à Evanston (recensement 1910), John F. Byrnes continue à filmer des vues animées pour le compte de William N. Selig :

Films in Indianapolis
John F. Byrnes, of Chicago, is arranging with the Indianapolis Commercial Club to take several films of motion pictures of Indianapolis, including views of streets and pretentious buildings, pictures of prominent men and other features of general interest, the purpose being to make an educative view of Indianapolis to show in picture theaters over the United States. His company, Mr. Byrnes said, shows its pictures to about 11,000,000 people a day. W. N. Selig. president of the company, is devoting his wealth and energy to making the picture theaters educative in effect, and Indianapolis is one of a number of cities where the films are to be made.
Mr. Byrnes said the Soldiers and Sailors' monument was the most picturesque thing he had seen in the heart of any American city. "The monument, with its surroundings," he said, "is nearest a view of an European capital that this country has to offer. It will, of course, be included in the films we make of Indianapolis. We shall also obtain pictures of residence streets, of the larger industries, and hope to photograph Governor Marshall, Mayor Shank and other well-known men."
The making of the films will begin September 11 and the work will require three or four days.

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Motography, vol. VI, nº 3, septembre 1911, p. 128.

Dans les années qui suivent, John F. Byrnes poursuit des activités liées au cinématographe. Il est directeur général de l'"International Industrial and Educational Film Company" :

Mr. John F. Byrnes, secretary and general manager of the International Industrial and Educational Film Company, who will presently announce through MOTOGRAPHY plans for marketing this product to the trade.

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Motography, vol. IX,  nº 8, avril 1913, p. 263.

Par la suite, on le retrouve directeur général de l' "Historial Feature Film Co." :

The Historical Feature Film Co.
Fort Dearborn Building, Chicago
JOHN F. BYRNES, General Manager.

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Motion Picture News, 14 mars 1914.

En 1918, John F. Byrnes exerce la profession de journaliste ("Newspaper Correspondent") et habite à Washington (passeport 1918 et passeport 1919), même s'il réside toujours à Evanston (recensement 1920). Il se rend à plusieurs reprises en Europe, ainsi en 1920 et 1921 (passeport). Il réside encore à Evanston (recensement 1930) peu avant sa disparition.

Sources

"Root to Fight Ryan", The Daily Inter Ocean, Chicago, lundi 31 décembre 1900, p. 4.

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