William Allen Carson

photographer: Carson
Hillsdale, MI

reverse of cabinet card at the left

William Allen Carson
(1833-1909)

Information sources: US, Canadian census, state marriage and death records, news items as noted

1833 Mar 28
Seneca, NY, Michigan death records, Ontario, CA, marriage records, William Allen Carson is born to William Scott Carson and Angeline B Colwell in Seneca, Ontario County, New York
1850 Jul 15
Seneca, Ontario, NY, US census, Carson at age 17
1860
Toronto, CA, city directory as no occupation shown; res 6 King st w
1861
Toronto, York, Canada West, Canada; as photographer; res King st North side
1863 Sep 11
Ontario, CA, Ontario county records, William A Carson and Mary Ann Wylie marry
1867 Jul 16
Hillsdale (MI) Standard news display ad for Andrews and Carson photo studio

1870
Hillsdale, MI, city directory as photographer with Andrew & Carson; res s s Bacon, cor Manning (This partnership with Reuben L Andrew was likely very short.)
1870 Jun 14
Hillsdale, MI, US census Carson as photographer
1875 Oct 26
Hillsdale (MI) Standard news item about Carson and the Eureka Club elections in Hillsdale, WI
1876 Sep 26
Hillsdale (MI) Standard news item mentions W A Carson, popular photographer
1877 Jan 23
Hillsdale (MI) Standard news item mentions social at the home of W A Carson
1878 Jul 30
Hillsdale (MI) Standard news item says Carson has just returned from a trip through Illinois and Iowa
1879 Sep 16
Hillsdale (MI) Standard news item says Carson has left for Toronto, ON the day before
1880 Jun 05
Hillsdale, MI, US census Carson as Daguerrian artist

1881
Peoria, IL, city directory, Wm A Carson NOT listed; Wm B Carson is listed as photographer (NOT the same person)
1889
Peoria, IL, city directory Carson NOT listed
1890-1891
Peoria, IL, city directory Wm A Carson as artist; apparently working for another studio
1892 Mar 09
Detroit (MI) Free Press according to a news item, Carson is listed as visiting Detroit from Hillsdale, MI
1892
Peoria, IL, city directory Carson NOT listed
1893
Detroit, MI, city directory Carson NOT listed
1893 Oct 01
Detroit (MI) Free Press news item says Mrs W A Carson and daughter have returned from Hillsdale
1894
Detroit, MI, city directory NOT available
1894
Cleveland, OH, city directory Carson NOT listed
1895
Detroit, MI, city directory as photographer for G A F Peterson; bds 76 Sproat

Hillsdale (MI) Standard - 26 Sep 1876

1896
Cleveland, OH, Detroit, MI, city directories W A Carson NOT listed
1897
Cleveland OH, Detroit, MI, city directories, Carson NOT listed;
1898
Cleveland, OH, city directory as clerk; res 121 Streator
1899
Cleveland, OH, city directory as clerk; res 123 Streator (123 probably a print error)
1900
Cleveland OH, city directory as photographer; res 121 Streator av
1901
Cleveland, OH, city directory Carson as photographer; res 1703 Superior; no studio listed
1902
Cleveland, OH, city directory Carson NOT listed
1903
Detroit, MI, city directory Carson NOT listed (1902 Detroit, MI, directory incomplete)
1904
Detroit, MI, city directory as photographer; bds 31 Joy; no studio listed

Hillsdale (MI) Standard - 23 Jan 1877

1905
Detroit, MI, city directory Carson as Printer; bds 33 Joy
1906, 1907, 1908, 1909
Detroit, MI, city directory as photographer; bds 31 Joy; no studio listed
1909 Aug 03
Michigan state records, William Allen Carson dies at age 76

Carson moved around a lot. Records found him in Toronto, Detroit, Peoria, Hillsdale, and Cleveland. When his location is unknown, the timeline above lists places he was NOT.

While still living in Hillsdale, MI, he was active in the Eureka Dancing Club and the Hillsdale Amateur Dramatis Association.

William A Carson apparently worked for other photographers most of his career. It appears the only time he had his own studio was between 1870 and 1880 when he was working in Hillsdale, MI. And at least some of that time he was partnered with Reuben L Andrew as “Andrew and Carson”.

Hillsdale (MI) Standard

Hillsdale (MI) Standard - 16 Sep 1879

Hillsdale (MI) Standard - 16 Jul 1867

Hillsdale (MI) Standard - 26 Oct 1875

Detroit (MI) Free Press - 29 Mar 1892

Detroit (MI) Free Press - 01 Oct 1893


Hillsdale (MI) Standard - 10 Jan 1899

photographer Carson
CDV example found at Langdon Road

photographer: Carson
Hillsdale, MI
example from pin

photographer Carson
Hillsdale, MI
example from auction site

The example at the right is by William B Carson. He is listed in Peoria, IL, city directoryies as photographer and real estate agent, 1880 through 1884.

No connection has been made to William A Carson who was working as artist in Peoria, IL, in 1890.

photographer: W B Carson
901 N Adams St, Peoria, IL
example from Peoria Historical Society

photographer Carson and Graham
Hillside, MI
example from Detroit Public Library

photographer Carson and Graham
Hillsdale, MI
example from Detroit Public Library

photographer Carson ad Graham
Hillsdale, MI
example from Pin

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.

This is a work always in progress.

Aditional information and New examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

All submissions should be free of glare and shadows.
Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.