(c.1802-1865) Where and how Thomas Jefferson Dobyns learned the daguerreotype process is not known. He first appeared in Memphis, Tenn., where he advertised a cotton commission agency from August, 1844 through September, 1846. In
late 1844, he also advertised a dry goods and staples store on Jefferson Street.
In August, 1845, Dobyns advertised his daguerreian gallery across from the new Commercial Hotel. In March, 1846 he advertised his daguerreian galery on Front Row, Memphis, next to McComb's store. He noted that a Mr. Kimball, from Philadelphia, Pa., was in charge. In September, he continued to advertise his cotton commission agency.
By the beginning of the following year, Dobyns had opened a gallery in Louisville, Kentucky. He called it the "National Daguerreotype Gallery", over 477 Main Street, and was in partnership with John M. Hewett as Hewett and Dobyns. The gallery was noted as being near Isaac Crombie's store, and advertised a reception room 65x63 feet and carpeted. The partnership may have dissolved by early 1850; in that year Hewett was listed alone at the same address, and in 1851 he had moved his operation to 449 Main Street.
Dobyns continued with the Louisville location in 1848, and also opened a third gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio, probably in May. He was listed as T.J. Dobyns & Co., at either 24 or 26 West Fifth Street.
Sometime between 1848 and 1852, Dobyns was listed in Louisville, Kentucky in partnership as Dobyns and Hall (N.), while in Memphis in February, 1848, he advertised as Dobyns and Wilson, at 180 Main Street.
In 1849 Dobyns continued his gallery in Memphis, at 180 Main Street, corner of Main and Jefferson; the listing noted R.H. Wellington as an operator. An alternate source listed the gallery in partnership as Dobyns and Wilson; Dobyns listed his residence between Second and Bayou Streets. The Louisville gallery continued to be located over 477 Main Street, in partnership with J.M. Hewett. In this gallery over the years, Dobyns was credited with training a number of daguerreians, including J.A. Mallory, D.J. Wedge, Wilson (possibly Dobyns' son-in-law), and R.H. Wellington.
Nashville, Tenn. became the site of a new Dobyns gallery in 1850. The Cincinnati location continued; and another new gallery was opened in Vicksburg, Miss. In November of that year, Dobyns was also noted as an active daguerreian in New Orleans, La. William Harrington, a New Orleans daguerreian, joined with Dobyns in this new gallery. Harrington had previously been in business with Maguire before his death in 1851. The new partnership apparently flourished as Dobyns and Harrington at 6 Camp Street until it suffered an extensive fire in January, 1857.
In 1851, Dobyns purchased a gallery in St. Louis, Mo., from Edwin Church. It is unclear at this point whether it had been Church's Gallery, or whether Church acted as an agent for Dobyns in the purchase of someone else's gallery. Church, who would later work for Dobyns, may have gone to New York City at this point and worked for M.M. Lawrence until some time in 1853. In Louisville, Dobyns was listed in a new gallery location, over 489 Main Street, with James H. Dobyns and two other daguerreians.
In July, 1851, Dobyns was elected Vice President of the Daguerre Society.
In 1852, Dobyns had his first listing in the St. Louis, Mo. directories, as a daguerreian at the southeast corner of Fourth and Chestnut Streets, in partnership as Dobyns and DeShong (W.H.).
The firm of Dobyns, Yearout (J.T.) and Richardson (V.L.) made its first appearance in 1853, when they advertised in Nashville, Tenn., as daguerreians and stock dealers. The gallery there was opened in February, and the firm was listed at 59 North College Street, upstairs. Yearout was listed as boarding at the Verandah Hotel. He was the only one of the three listed in the business directory.
In New York City, N.Y., in 1853, the catalog for the New York Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations listed the daguerreian firm of Moissenet, Dobyns, Richardson & Co. The directories listed Dobyns as a daguerreian at 303 Broadway, New York City; alternately he was listed as Dobyns, Richardson (V.L.) & Co., and Dobyns, Richardson and Moissenet. The gallery in New York City was opened in April, at the corner of Duane Street and Broadway. By 1855 the firm had apparently abandoned its New York Gallery, and Richardson was listed there alone.
In Memphis in 1853, Dobyns, Yearout and Richardson were listed as daguerreians and stock dealers, at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets. Other sources indicate that it was in 1853 that Dobyns formed a partnership of Dobyns and Yearout in Memphis (this combination was referenced in Novmber); and Dobyns and Richardson in New York City. In Nashville the partnership of Dobyns, Yearout and Richardson was formed. One source also listed Moissenet in New Orleans, La., in partnership as Moissenet, Dobyns, Richardson and Co. This reference continued until 1856, when Moissenet apparently severed his connection with Dobyns and joined forces with Frederick Law in a studio at 1 Camp Street.
In November, 1853, Dobyns was noted as being en route between Nashville and Memphis. By October of that year, Edwin Church was reported to be at the Memphis gallery. He was still there in January, 1854. Also by October, in St. Louis, Dobyns was listed in partnership as Dobyns and Spaulding (J.M.). In September, 1853, Edwin Bronk, a daguerreian from New York City, joined the firm in St. Louis and remained with the gallery until October, 1854.
In 1854, in New York, Dobyns continued to be listed as a daguerreian at 303 Broadway, but alone, with no indication of any partnerships. An alternate source listed him at 299 Broadway, in partnership as Dobyns, Richardson & Co. In Nashville, Dobyns, Yearout and Richardson continued to be listed, with Yearout still living in town. In Memphis, Dobyns formed a partnership of Dobyns and Yearout. In April, 1854 it was noted Yearout was at the New York City gallery, but would stay only a short time, before returning to Memphis.
In St. Louis in 1854, Dobyns was listed as a daguerreian at the northwest corner of Fourth and Olive Streets, in partnership as Dobyns and Spaulding. This was Dobyns' last listing in the St. Louis directories. Dobyns sold the gallery in November. He may have sold it to Spaulding, as he continued in business there until 1857, continuing to advertise as Dobyns and Spaulding, but possibly without Dobyns' financial support. In February, 1854, in Memphis, Dobyns purchased the gallery of the deceased "Mr. Shaw" and refurbishing it for his own use. The Memphis gallery continued to be listed as Dobyns, Yearout and Richardson, at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets.
In October, 1854, Dobyns disposed of his Louisville gallery. In the same month he closed the Nashville gallery and sold his New York City gallery. However, he continued to be listed in the New York City directory in 1855 at the 303 Broadway address.
At the Memphis gallery in 1855, at 180 Main Street, Dobyns listed J.A. Mallory and D.J. Wedge as cameramen. R.H. Wellington, who was a Dobyns employee, was also listed as a daguerreian at 219 Main Street. Whether this was a second Dobyns location is not known.
In March, 1856, Dobyns was listed in New Orleans, La., in business as Dobyns and Harrington (W.). The firm advertised photographs on plate glass, and noted the services of E.D. Hawkins of Cincinnati and a Mr. Harding, artist. By January, 1857, Harding has established his own business in New Orleans as a portrait painter. In 1857, Dobyns purchased land in Louisiana, in anticipation of retirement.
In January, 1857, the 6 Camp Street gallery suffered extensive damage in a fire. R.A. Carnden, reporting to Snelling's Photographic and Fine Art Journal in August, 1858, visited the gallery, which he found still in a state of litter from the fire. A daguerreian named T.A. Gray was operating there; whether Gray was an employe of Dobyns and Harrington or whether he had purchased the gallery is not clear at this point. T.J. Dobyns died in May, 1865 in Amite, Louisiana.