Robert James Stone was born in Chappell Hill, Texas to Warren Thomas and Cornelia (Merriwether) Stone on September 18, 1869. His mother died when Robert was an infant and he was raised by his half-brother Thomas Benton Stone and his wife Kittie. In 1881, Thomas left his job as President of Soule University and moved the family to Caldwell, where he opened his first drug store. While in Caldwell, Robert developed an interest in photography and soon opened a gallery to exhibit his work. In December 1892, Thomas Stone purchased a popular drug business in Georgetown, Texas and relocated his family there. Robert remained in Caldwell until 1896 before joining his brother in Georgetown, where he would live and work for the remainder of his life. The Williamson County Sun published the first advertisement for his Georgetown studio on September 9, 1897. During his time in Georgetown, Stone made a name for himself as “Southwestern’s Photographer.” Although Stone never attended university himself, he captured hundreds of photographs of the campus, faculty, and students. He was hired to photograph for many of Southwestern’s organizations and events, and was even featured in early editions of the university’s yearbook. In 1906, Stone married Vitula “Tula” Lee of Caldwell, with whom he had three children. Stone maintained sole ownership and operation of his photography studio until the 1940s, when he partnered with Lee Karr, a 1942 graduate of Southwestern University. Karr worked under Stone until 1947, when Stone transferred the business to him. Stone died in Georgetown on July 28, 1953 and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery directly adjacent to Southwestern University.