Albert Mauldin Carpenter was born in the Broadway Creek area of Anderson County in 1871, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Berry Carpenter. He attended a local country school at Neal’s Creek and as a boy worked on a farm in Fork Township.

In 1884, he moved into Anderson where he quickly became intensely interested in the newspaper business, which developed into his lifelong career. The youngster first learned the printing trade by working as an office boy for the old Anderson Journal. As a young man he moved to McCormick, SC where he worked for the local newspaper for several years. During the next few years he worked at papers in Lincolnton, GA, Greenwood, SC, and Charleston, SC.

Carpenter returned to Anderson in 1903 as head of The Daily Mail’s editorial department. While developing the paper into a well-known southern publication, he directed his energies toward improving the Anderson community. Through writing a daily column, as well as frequent editorials, he sought to foster cooperation, pride, and a sense of civic responsibility. He also began another local paper, the People’s Advocate.

In 1903, Carpenter became a charter member of The Anderson Chamber of Commerce and was elected as its secretary and a member of the Education Committee. His work with the Chamber and his newspaper writings provided him a platform to promote the establishment of a college in Anderson. On November 23, 1910 in his capacity as Chamber Secretary, he announced at a public meeting at the courthouse that the goal of $100,000 had been met to fund an institution of higher education. The founding of Anderson College followed in 1911, largely due to the fundraising and promotion of Mr. Carpenter.

Appointed assistant librarian of the US House of Representatives, Carpenter left Anderson for Washington, D.C. In 1911 he was named to the United Sates Immigration Commission and traveled throughout Europe.

Carpenter documented World War I as a special correspondent at Camp Wadsworth in Spartanburg, SC several eastern newspapers. He also operated a bureau for a number of state newspapers in Columbia, SC.

Post-war, Carpenter continued his career in journalism by founding The Sun in Spartanburg. He moved then to Fayetteville, NC where he would work as editor of The Fayetteville Observer until his death on March 24, 1926.

A tribute in the Anderson Daily Mail stated that Albert Mauldin Carpenter “ever worked to the betterment of his community” and “left a heritage of loyalty and devotion to his hometown.”