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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 50 Collections and/or Records:

George Alley papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231217040]
Identifier: MSS SC 727
Abstract Account and receipt books, family correspondence, diary of Stephen Webb Alley, genealogy, family history materials, and memorabilia of the George Alley family. Photographs include studio portraits of Lydia Ann Alley and Susan Hannah Alley Wells, polygamist wives of Mormon Church leader, Daniel H. Wells, and a portrait of George Alley's wife, Mary Symond Alley. A majority of the photos were taken by Salt Lake City photographer Charles R. Savage. The photographs are albumen and matte collodion...
Dates: 1834-1891
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / George Alley papers

John F. Bennett photograph album of Church history

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225540480]
Identifier: MSS P 801
Scope and Contents This collection contains one small black photo album. The album was made by John F. Bennett for Mr. and Mrs. George Albert Smith in the 1930s. It is similar to other albums put together by Bennett but is uniquely arranged with the Smiths in mind. Bennett used images created by several notable pioneer photographers such as William H. Jackson, C. R. Savage, George E. Anderson, C. W. Carter etc. The photographs selected should be considered some of the most notable images depicting the pioneer...
Dates: 1847-1930
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John F. Bennett photograph album of Church history

C. R. Savage photographs

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227643464]
Identifier: MSS 3678
Scope and Contents

This collection contains one stereo card of the rapids of the Colorado River below Hite. Also included is one cabinet photograph of a posed couple. The woman in the photograph is pregnant.

Dates: approximately 1890-1899
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / C. R. Savage photographs

C. R. Savage boudoir prints, 1855-1894

 Series — Box 3: Series 3 [Barcode: 31197233281119]
Identifier: MSS P 24 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains boudoir prints produced by Savage, dating from between 1855 and 1894.

Dates: 1855-1894
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS P 24, C. R. Savage photograph collection

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

C. R. Savage oversize photographs, 1857-1910

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 24 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains large-format photographs produced by Savage, dating from between 1857 and 1910.

Dates: 1857-1910
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS P 24, C. R. Savage photograph collection

C. R. Savage photographs, 1847-1918

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 24 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs produced by Savage, dating from between 1847 and 1918. Also includes photocopies of selected photographs.

Dates: 1847-1918
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS P 24, C. R. Savage photograph collection

C. R. Savage photographs of nature and buildings, circa 1830-1900

 Series — Box 1: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197233281812], Folder: 1-7
Identifier: MSS 7896 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Includes sixty photographs of landscapes in Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park along with photographs of waterfalls on the Columbia River. There are also many photographs of buildings, boats, and the Pacific Ocean.

Dates: circa 1830-1900
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 7896, C. R. Savage landscape and family photographs

C. R. Savage photographs of the Savage family, 1868-1938

 Series — Box 1: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197233281812], Folder: 8-12
Identifier: MSS 7896 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Includes sixty photographs of members of the Savage family, mostly of portraits.

Dates: 1868-1938
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 7896, C. R. Savage landscape and family photographs

C. R. Savage stereographs, 1849-1909

 Series — Box 1: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197233621538]
Identifier: MSS P 24 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains stereographs produced by Savage, dating from between 1849 and 1909.

Dates: 1849-1909
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS P 24, C. R. Savage photograph collection

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