C.R. Savage photograph collection
Scope and Contents
The C.R. Savage photograph collection consists of original photographs taken from around 1865 to 1895. The majority of the photographs are cabinet card portraits (many of children) from his Salt Lake City studio including a 1888 portrait of Wilford Woodruff (4th LDS Church President), and a 1897 view of Temple Square. The remainder consists of stereographs of scenes in and around Utah, an interior shot of the Salt Lake City Tabernacle, two oversize landscapes, and two carte-de-visites.
Dates
- Creation: 1865-1910
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Restrictions
Open to public research.
Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the C.R. Savage photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
Charles R. Savage (1832-1909) was one of the most prominent American photographers of the late nineteenth century. He is perhaps best known for shooting the coming together of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads at Promontory Point, Utah in 1869. His photographic trips, however, took him throughout the West from the 1860s to the 1890s and his images were sold across the United States and reproduced in Eastern periodicals. A convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he grew up in Southampton, England and moved to New York City in 1855. He slowly mastered the new medium of photography and by the time he and his young family made their way to Utah in 1860 he was ready to set up a permanent studio. Savage was a savvy businessman whose profits from a successful art/photography store funded his various photographic endeavors. In Utah he was known not only as a photographer but also as a philanthropist and passionate defender of the Mormon Chuch. He would eventually enter into polygamist unions with four women.
Extent
3 boxes (3 linear ft.)
Abstract
The C.R. Savage photograph collection consists of 130 original photographs taken from around 1865 to 1895. The majority of the photographs are cabinet card portraits (many of children) from his Salt Lake City studio including a 1888 portrait of Wilford Woodruff (4th LDS Church President), and a 1897 view of Temple Square. The remainder consists of: stereographs of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads; an interior shot of the Salt Lake City Tabernacle; two oversize landscapes; and two carte-de-visites.
Arrangement
Organized numerical by photo number.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Many sources are unknown; photo 1:58 purchased from Deseret Industries, photographs and stereoscopes in Box 3 folders 6-7 were purchased from Ken Sanders and Tschanz Rare Books during the period of 2013-2023.
CR Savage images located in A-boards
A-0199a: The Lion House A-0199b: Temple Square after completion, 1893 A-2399: Salt Lake Tabernacle construction scenes, 1860-1869, reprinted by C.E. Johnson A-4432: Thomas W. Sloan A-4433 Rachel Ridgeway Ivins Grant (1821-1909) A-4434: George Kirkham and Daughters Leah and Maud, 1894
Processing Information
Register completed by Ryan Swanson in 2001, and revised by Daniel Davis in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Additional materials added in 2024 by Heather Housley
Genre / Form
- Albumen prints--West (U.S.)--19th century.
- Stereographs--West (U.S.)--19th century.
- Studio portraits--West (U.S.)--19th century.
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the C.R. Savage photograph collection, 1865-1910
- Author
- Finding aid created by Ryan Swanson, October 2001, and revised by Daniel Davis, November 2006.
- Date
- ©2008
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Revision Statements
- May 31, 2008: Template information was updated to reflect Utah Manuscript Association best practices.
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
- 2024: Finding aid updated to include additional material and group photographs and stereoviews separately
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu