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Savage, C. R. (Charles Roscoe), 1832-1909

 Person

Biographical History

C. R. Savage (1832-1909) was a photographer of the American West in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Charles Roscoe Savage, born August 16, 1832, in England, became one of the foremost 19th century landscape photographers of the western United States, as well as a renowned studio portrait photographer, with his studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. The idea to emigrate from England to Utah undoubtedly began shortly after his 1848 baptism and membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Savage's immigration in 1856 to New York marked the beginning of his known interest in establishing a photography business. On assignment from the Church he traveled to Florence, Nebraska. His family subsequently joined him in 1860 and Savage established a primitive studio in Council Bluffs, Nebraska. Finally, the family made their way across the country arriving in Salt Lake City on August 29, 1860. The next day he made business arrangements with Marsena Cannon, a daguerreotype photographer and owner of a studio on East Temple. In 1862, with Cannon's departure to St. George, Utah, Savage formed a partnership with George Martin Ottinger. Savage & Ottinger legally dissolved their firm in 1870, and that same year Savage formed the Pioneer Art Gallery, and in 1875, needing more space, he replaced it with the Art Bazaar.

On June 26, 1883, his Art Bazaar burned to the ground, with all of his negatives. After his death on February 3, 1909, another fire in 1911 destroyed all of the negatives from the last twenty-five years of his career. Although his sons continued to operate the business, the Art Bazaar closed its doors permanently on December 31, 1926.

Citation:
Harold B. Lee Library Website, website viewed Oct. 14, 2010: C.R. Savage Biography (born Aug. 16, 1832 in England; studio in Salt Lake City, Utah; baptized LDS Church 1848; immigrated to USA 1856; studio in Council Bluffs, Neb.; arrived in Salt Lake Aug. 29, 1860; worked with Marsena Cannon, 1860-1862; worked with Ottinger until 1870; replaced Pioneer Art Gallery with Art Bazaar, 1875; gallery burned June 26, 1883; died Feb. 3, 1909; fire in the workshop in 1911; Art Bazaar closed Dec. 31, 1926)

Bradley W. Richards, His The Savage view, 1995.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

C. R. Savage cartes-de-visite and cabinet cards, 1852-1918

 Series — Box 2: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233281101]
Identifier: MSS P 24 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains cartes-de-visite and cabinet cards produced by Savage, dating from between 1852 and 1918.

Dates: 1852-1918
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS P 24, C. R. Savage photograph collection

Orville C. Roberts photographs, postcards, and other material

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 211
Scope and Contents

Collection includes 116 photographs, postcards, and cartes-de-visite of the Roberts family and other families. These include the Stevens, Allen, Gibson, Biggs, Cooper, Steele, and Young families. Also includes one negative. Photographs were collected by Orville C. Roberts between the 1860s and the 1960s. Includes photographs by Savage and Ottinger, and C.W. Carter.

Dates: approximately 1860-1969
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Orville C. Roberts photographs, postcards, and other material

C. R. Savage cartes-de-visite of the joining of the rails

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227646939]
Identifier: MSS 4222
Scope and Contents This collection contains two carte-de-visites taken at Promontory Point, Utah during the Joining of the Rails ceremony which linked the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads to form the first transcontinental railroad in the United States on 10 May 1869. On the back of the carte-de-visites is written "Point of Junction of U.P. & C.P.R.R. [Union Pacific & Central Pacific Rail Roads]. Getting ready to lay the last rail" and "Driving last spike U.P. & C.P.R.R.R.s. Promontory...
Dates: 1869
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / C. R. Savage cartes-de-visite of the joining of the rails

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