[Ansicht des Townsend House, Salt Lake City, Utah]

Charles William Carter began his career as a photographer in the early 1850s and quickly gained recognition for his exceptional skills in the field. Carter was known for his portraits of famous people, including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and Susan B. Anthony. Carter was also an innovator in the field of photography. He was one of the first photographers to use flash powder to take pictures in low light. He also developed a technique for creating panoramic photographs by stitching together several images. In addition to his work as a photographer, Carter was also an entrepreneur. He owned several photography studios during his career and was a founding member of the Professional Photographers of America. Carter continued to work as a photographer well into his 80s and died in 1918 at the age of 86. Today, his photographs are considered some of the most important examples of early American photography and are sought after by collectors and museums around the world.