Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives
C.W. Carter Photograph Collection
UUS_P0548
1 box
.25 linear feet
1867-1870
The C.W. Carter photograph collection consists of 47 carte-de-visite photographs and 3 stereographs. Some, if not all, of these images were taken by Carter before the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1868-1869. Included are notable landmarks from Utah and southwest Wyoming, including Echo Canyon, Church Buttes (Two Church Buttes carts-de-visite images include telegraph lines), and the Needles. The collection also includes wagon trains, a stage coach, views along what would become the Union Pacific Railroad, and Native Americans.
Material in English
Processed in December of 2013
Photographs purchased from Ken Sanders Rare Books (Salt Lake City) in 2012. Stereoviews purchased from Cowan's Auctions in 2018.
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the C.W. Carter photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Initial Citation: USU_P0548; C.W. Carter photograph collection;Photograph Collections Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_P0548, USUSCA.
Charles William Carter (Born August 4, 1832) grew up in England and after converting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emigrated to the United States. Carter and his wife Sarah reached Salt Lake City in 1864 where he continued the photographic practice he began in England. Carter initially worked for C.R. Savage before starting his own studio in 1867. Over the years Carter partnered with a number of photographers including J.B. Silvis, C.W. Symons and Mikkael Faldmo. In 1906 he sold his collection of negatives to the Salt Lake City Bureau of Information for $400. The stamp of his business is found on the back of many of the items in this collection. Aside from the images found in this collection, Carter also captured scenes from Yellowstone National Park, the Transcontinental Railroad, and the construction of the Mormon Temple and Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.
These photos depict the landscape and way of life characteristic of Utah and southwestern Wyoming from 1867 to 1870. The majority of the collection shows select landmarks characteristic of the dry, rocky climate. Stage coaches, horses, and wagon trains depict the means of transportation in a region that the Union Pacific Rail Line had yet to reach. A few images of small, ranch-style dwellings reveal the living conditions of select inhabitants of the region. Two images of Church Buttes contain telegraph lines and their support poles, showing a precursor of the other rapid transport and communication forms that would soon after make their way to the Mountain West.
The C.W. Carter photograph collection consists of 47 carte-de-visite photographs and 3 stereographs (also called stereoviews). In many cases these images were taken before the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Included are notable landmarks from Utah and southwest Wyoming, including Echo Canyon, Church Buttes (Two Church Buttes carts-de-visite images include telegraph lines), and the Needles. The collection also includes wagon trains, Native Americans, a stage coach, and views along what would become the Union Pacific Railroad. It is not known if all the images were taken on one trip or multiple trips. In many cases snow appears in the images.
More C.W. Carter images can be found in P0349
Photography--Utah.
Photography--West (U.S.)
Photographers--Utah.
Stereographs--West (U.S.)--19th century.
Native American Images
1867-1870
1
1
"Snakes," Native Americans on horseback
1:01:01
1867-1870
1
"Shoshone Family," Native Americans, topless mother, father, and their two children
1:01:02
1867-1870
1
Transportation
1867-1870
1
2
"Beaver Dam," Wagon train
1:02:01
1867-1870
1
"Hanging Rock," Wagon train
1:02:02
1867-1870
1
"Overland Stage," Stagecoach
1:02:03
1867-1870
1
"Point Mountain," Two wagons travelling on a mountainside trail
1:02:04
1867-1870
1
"Bound for mines, Soda Springs," Two men, a dog, and four pack-horses
1:02:05
1867-1870
1
Church Buttes, Wyoming
1867-1870
1
3
"Church Buttes"
1:03:01-08
1867-1870
1
"Church Buttes," Telegraph Lines
1:03:09-10
1867-1870
1
Needle Rocks, Utah
1867-1870
1
4
"Church Buttes," Telegraph Lines
1:04:01-07
1867-1870
1
Echo, Utah and Weber River, Utah
1867-1870
1
5
"Echo," grassland with bovine skeleton and telegraph lines
1:05:01
1867-1870
1
"Echo Head"
1:05:02
1867-1870
1
"Dead Man's Rock Narrows"
1:05:03
1867-1870
1
"Obelisk Rock," rustic dwelling at base, Pulpit Rock
1:05:04-05
1867-1870
1
"Mouth of Echo," Pulpit Rock
1:05:06-08
1867-1870
1
"Mouth of Echo" covered wagon and a fence
1:05:09
1867-1870
1
"The Weber/Echo Mouth" Weber River
1:05:10
1867-1870
1
"Point Mountain/Weber River"
1:05:11-12
1867-1870
1
"Point Mountain South," Weber River
1:05:13
1867-1870
1
Miscellaneous
1867-1870
1
6
"Summit," Mountains, snow, and trees
1:06:01-02
1867-1870
1
"Pioneer Hollow," Two people sitting center of cedar trees
1:06:03
1867-1870
1
"Sulphur Creek," Cabin and a man in a hat
1:06:04
1867-1870
1
"Millersville" tent, teepee, wagon, and two people
1:06:05
1867-1870
1
""Sunset Provo," mountains and clouds
1:06:06
1867-1870
1
"Battle Creek Canyon Falls," a group of people standing at the top of falls
1:06:07
1867-1870
1
"Retreat Canyon," (Carter & Silvas)
1:06:08
1867-1870
1
"Opposite(?) But[t]e Station"
1:06:09
1867-1870
1
"Batteries"
1:06:10
1867-1870
1
Stereoviews
circa 1870
1
7
"President B. Young's Residence," East Temple St., Salt Lake City
1:07:01
"East Temple St., West Side." Salt Lake City
1:07:02
"Devil's Gate" Utah
1:07:03