A collection of approximately 7,000 cartes-de-visite and cabinet photograph portraits representing thousands of commercial photographers operating in the American West, 1860-1910.

Carl Mautz was born in Portland, Oregon in 1943. He began collecting cartes-de-visite and cabinet photographs from the early American West in 1974 while maintaining a law practice in mountain towns of Northern California. He became increasingly interested in the imprints found on the backs of these photographs, and the photographers about whom little to nothing was known. In 1975, based on his own and other collectors' research, he published a small guide called Checklist of Western Photographers, and continued hunting for unique imprints. In 1997, after 20 more years of collecting, selling, conferring, and researching, Mautz published a 600-page reference work titled Biographies of Western Photographers: A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, considered a seminal work in the field of early Western photography. Mautz turned full-time to dealing in photographs after he retired from practicing law in 1993. He also began a small publishing company and has published 25 books pertaining to photography or local California history.

28.3 Linear Feet (19 binders, 14 boxes)

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.