Charles L. Carson

Charles L. Carson (November 3, 1847 – December 18, 1891) was an American architect from Baltimore.

Life and career

He was born in Baltimore, the oldest son of Daniel Carson, a builder.[1] He had little formal training as an architect but learned general construction while working for his father.[2] Circa 1870 Carson partnered with architect Thomas Dixon while taking drawing lessons at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Carson and Dixon worked from their offices at 117 Baltimore Street as Thomas Dixon and Charles L. Carson[3] until sometime before 1877 when the partnership was dissolved.[2] In 1888 Carson hired Joseph Evans Sperry, who became his chief assistant and later his partner and successor.[4] Several of his buildings were completed by Sperry after Carson's death. Carson was one of the founders of the Baltimore chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).[1][5]

On December 6, 1870, he married Annie F. Cornelius, daughter of Richard Cornelius. He lived at 1725 Madison Avenue in Baltimore at the time of his death in 1891, at age 44.[2] He and his wife were interred at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore.[5]

A number of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Selected works

Wilmington Opera House (1871)
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Synagogue

Carson was supervising architect for Stanford White's Lovely Lane Methodist Church (1884) and Goucher Hall (1888).[4]

References

  1. ^ a b American Institute of Architects and Engineers, The Sun (1837-1985); Nov 15, 1875; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Baltimore Sun (1837-1985)
  2. ^ a b c The Obituary Record: Charles L. Carson The Well Known Architect, The Sun (1837-1985); Dec 19, 1891; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Baltimore Sun (1837-1985) pg. 8
  3. ^ Changes In Business Firms, The Sun (1837-1985); Jan 3, 1871; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Baltimore Sun (1837-1985) pg. 4
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Dorsey, John; Dilts, James D. (1997). A Guide to the Architecture of Baltimore (3rd ed.). Centreville, Maryland: Tidewater Publishers. pp. 396–397. ISBN 0-87033-477-8.
  5. ^ a b Kurtze, Peter E. "Carson, Charles L." Baltimore Architecture Foundation. Architect Biographies. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.