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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 8 Collections and/or Records:

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

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

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

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

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

C. R. Savage painting of Brigham Young homes

 Item — Item 1: [Barcode: 31197233645420]
Identifier: MSS 8427
Scope and Contents

Contains a painting of Brigham Young's home in Salt Lake City, Utah and some of the surrounding landscape painted in 1861.

Dates: 1861

C. R. Savage photograph collection

 Collection — Oversize-folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233276721]
Identifier: MSS P 24
Scope and Contents

Contains primarily original prints of photographs by Savage, covering all periods of his career. Of the 839 items, over 750 are clearly Savage photographs. Eighteen other photographers are also named, including Alfred A. Hart, Edw. J. Muybridge, and possibly Carleton E. Watkins photograph. Includes landscapes in Utah and the West, with many in Salt Lake City. Also includes portraits, many of leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with many of Brigham Young.

Dates: approximately 1860-1900

C. R. Savage scrapbook

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 824
Scope and Contents

This collection is the scrapbook of Savage. It includes newspaper clippings, copied poems and songs, a brief autobiography, correspondence, memorabilia, and other miscellaneous items including the newspaper notices of his death. It also has some press releases relating to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Dates: 1883-1909