Henry Anson had emigrated from England with his family in 1850. He established a studio, the Adelaide Photographic Institution at 45 Rundle Street in 1863. By the end of 1863 he had moved his studio to 97 Rundle Street and had taken his brother-in-law, William Francis as his partner.

It appears in early 1866 Anson left the partnership and Francis continued to operate the Adelaide Photographic Institution for about a year before selling the entire stock to Thomas Jackson.

Anson took up a new occupation as a travelling salesman for a chemist and in 1867, took over his own dispensary at Kadina on the Yorke Peninsula.

It is unknown how the images came into the Museum collection.

He briefly revived the API at its former address late in 1867 and some carte de visite produced between late 1867 and early 1868 are stamped on the reverse 'H. Anson's Adelaide Photographic Studio'.