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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.

À peine quelques mois plus tard, il intègre la 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.

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.

La nouvelle société obtient 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 continue à poursuivre 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.

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