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.