T J Echols

Photographer: T J Echols
Conway, Ark

Thomas Jefferson Echols
(1854 - 1918)

T J Echols appears to have spent nearly all his professional life in Little Rock, AR, from about 1888 to 1914. There was a short stay in Monroe, LA, in 1914 and he died in Illinois in 1918. He had at least 8 different studio locations in Little Rock, the longest stay being 301 ½ Main from 1902 to 1908.

He had branch studios in other cities in Arkansas and as far away as England as one news item shows.
Timeline sources: US census, city directories, newspaper items as noted
1854 May 05
T J Echols born in Holly Springs, MS
1884 May 20
Mansfield, LA, marries Henrietta Caroline Wynne
1888 Jun 24
Little Rock, AR, son Samuel Thomas Echols born
1890
Little Rock, AR city directory as photographer; res 1310 Louisana
1890 Apr 16
Little Rock, AR, son Harry Clyde Echols born
1890
Little Rock, AR, city directory, as photographer; res 1310 Louisiana

1891 Sep 26, 29; Oct 06, 07,
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat small item for studio at 309 e Markham st
1893 Mar 09
Little Rock, AR, son Herbert Eugene Echols born
1895 Sep
Little Rock AR, daughter Lois I Echols born
1899 Feb 11, 12, 14, 15;
Little Rock Daily Arkansas Gazette as photographer at 103 1/2 Washington av
1900 Jun 09
US census Little Rock, AR, as photographer at 103 W Washington; Little Rock, AR, city directory a photographer at 105 w Washington
1901 Apr 30, May 01, 08, 10;
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat small ad as photographer at 106 1/2 n Washington av
1902 Aug 04, 06, 08, 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 25, 27, 29; Sep 01;
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat small ads as photographer at 301 ½ Newton av
1902, 1906, 1907,
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer at 302 ½ Newton, av; res same
1904 Jun 04
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat item T J Echols granted permission to open cold drink stand at 121 Main st

1905 Jan 20, 23
(Little Rock) Arkansas Daily Gazette small ad for studio at 301 ½ Main
1906 Oct 25
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat item Echols to erect a tent gallery on Main
1906 Nov 14
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat item tent gallery has been removed
1907 Jul 09
(Little Rock) Daily Arkansas Gazette small item Echols asks permission to erect refreshment stand at corner of Washington and Maple
1908 Feb 16
(Little Rock) Daily Arkansas Gazette item shows residence as 301 ½ Main
1908
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer at 105 ½ w Washington
1909 May 13
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat item Echols moving gallery to booth at Riverview Park
1910
US census Little Rock, AR, as photographer res 620 Maple; Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer at 115 ½ s Maple, res 301 ½ Main
1910
Echols is elected as Justice of the Peace in Little Rock, AR

-- Continued on next row --

1911
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer at 200 ½ main; res rms 111 e 5th
1911 Jul 05
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat Justice T J Echols sells gallery toKime and resigns as Justice of Peace
1911 Aug 12
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat Bert E Kime takes over Echols studio in Mathews building
1911
(Little Rock) Daily Arkansas Gazette 6 small ads as photographer at 521 Main
1912
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer; res 1309 State; not listed in business pages
1913
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer, res 1309 State; not listed in business pages
1914
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer, res 1309 State; not listed in business pages
1914 Jan to Jun
Bulletin of Photography page 151, item T J Echols has located his studio in Monroe, LA
1914 May 28
Monroe (LA) News Star item studio furniture for sale

1918 Dec 23
T J Echols dies in Alton, IL, at age 64


When T J Echols actually had a branch studio in Conway, AR, is not known for sure. Perhaps it was in 1891 when a news item proclaims that he has “returned” to Little Rock.

But it could have been any time. Photographers were known to have temporary studios in small towns around where they lived.

Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock) - 26 Sep 1891

Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock) 11 Feb 1899


Arkansas (Little Rock)Democrat 25 Oct 1906


Arkansas Democrat - 15 Dec 1906

Arkansas Gazette - 04 Jul 1911


Arkansas Democrat - 12 Aug 1911


Bulletin of Photography - Jan-Jun 1914


Monre (LA) News Star - 28 May 1914

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