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William Carter Obituary
12/25/1934 - 01/01/2025
William Carter, an acclaimed photographer, writer, and jazz musician, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025, in Oakland, California, at age 90. Born in Los Angeles to Edward William Carter and Christine Dailey Hilty, Bill graduated from Stanford University in 1957 before embarking on a remarkable career spanning decades and continents.
Carter's work, celebrated for its humanity and depth, appeared in Life, The New York Times and Geographical Magazine. His six books include Ghost Towns of the West, Middle West Country, Preservation Hall, Illuminations, Causes and Spirits: Photographs from Five Decades, and Kurds I Knew. His photographs, held in collections like the J. Paul Getty Museum, documented subjects ranging from Western ghost towns to Iraqi Kurds and New Orleans jazz.
An accomplished clarinetist, Carter performed in Europe and toured nationally with Turk Murphy's Jazz Band. He also chaired the San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation.
He is survived by his wife Ulla Morris Carter, nephew Murray Huneke, nieces Christine Kremer and Lorraine Huneke, and stepchildren Maria Morris LaGow, Karin Morris, Julia Morris, Jeff Hamilton, and Jennifer "Jenny" Hamilton Roland.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William Carter
1 Entry
Oscar Gallo
March 2, 2025
Very sad to see this news , our condolences....I had sent an Aramco 75 year anniversary Magazine that mentioned Joe Alex Morris, I sent it to Ulla at the San Mateo address but it was returned .. would like to resend ..
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