Mendel Diness
Mendel Diness (1827 in Odessa – December 1, 1900 in Port Townsend, Washington) was a Jewish watchmaker in 19th century Jerusalem who studied photography under the Scottish missionary and photographer James Graham and during the 1850s became the first Jewish photographer in Jerusalem. Diness arrived in Jerusalem in Ottoman Palestine in 1848, where he eventually converted to Christianity, receiving the additional baptism name of John, after which he was divorced by his wife and lost his business due to boycotts by local Jews. Around 1859-60 Diness relocated to the United States, changed his name to Mendenhall John Dennis, and became a minister and lecturer.
Also recorded as Mendel G'on Dines · Mendenhall John Dennis · Mendel John Diness · Mendel John Dinness
Mendel Diness
Mendel Diness (1827-1900) · Public domain
- Name
- Mendel Diness
- Born
- 1827
- Birthplace
- Odessa
- Died
- 1901 12
- Place of death
- Port Townsend, Washington
- Occupation
- Photographer
- Known for
- Early photographs of Jerusalem
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- photography
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Mendel Diness (1827 in Odessa – December 1, 1900 in Port Townsend, Washington) was a Jewish watchmaker in 19th century Jerusalem who studied photography under the Scottish missionary and photographer James Graham and during the 1850s became the first Jewish photographer in Jerusalem. Diness arrived in Jerusalem in Ottoman Palestine in 1848, where he eventually converted to Christianity, receiving the additional baptism name of John, after which he was divorced by his wife and lost his business due to boycotts by local Jews. Around 1859-60 Diness relocated to the United States, changed his name to Mendenhall John Dennis, and became a minister and lecturer.
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wikidata · Q6816569 · wikipedia · Mendel Diness
In this article
Biography
Biography
The early photographs of Diness and his mentor, James Graham, were the subject of an exhibition at Yeshiva University Museum at the Center for Jewish History from December 4, 2007 until April 6, 2008.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Mendel Diness • Born — 1827 • Birthplace — Odessa • Died — 1901 12 • Place of death — Port Townsend, Washington • Occupation — Photographer • Known for — Early photographs of Jerusalem
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Odesa.
Birth place
Port Townsend.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Mendel Diness”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q6816569: Mendel Diness
General reference · Wikidata
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reference work
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General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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