Inventor Name
Powell, George May
Repository
Manuscripts and Special Collections
New York State Library
Cultural Education Center
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12230
518-474-6282
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/using.htm
Physical Description
5 boxes.
Summary
The George May collection is comprised of correspondence to various business, religious and personal associates. Letters concerning the Civil War, such as the entrance of black troops into Richmond, Lincoln's assassination, and letters to Andrew Carnegie and Theodore Roosevelt about labor arbitration are some of the more noteworthy subjects of these correspondences. Powell's speeches on various topics and issues of the late 19th century, temperance, economics and forest preservation, provide great insight into the concerns of upper middle class reformers in post-Civil War America. The collection is also comprised of agreements and specifications of Powell's invention of an improved rifle and army cot during the Civil War, diaries of Powell's day to day activities and observations, as well as documents concerning Powell's publishing interest and philanthropic and religious organizations, such as the Evangelical Press Association and the Pennsylvania Sabbath School Association. Charters of social organizations such as the Arbitration Council and the Intensive Agricultural Society and the legal and personal papers of Mrs. Powell's sister, Margaret Moody, are also included. The collection is also comprised of numerous late 19th century photographs, most of which are cartes de visite and cabinet card portraits of unidentified people. The remainder of the photos are of Powell's friends and family. These photographs are from a number of studios in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. George May Powell was a philanthropist and public speaker on progressive and religious issues of the late 19th Century. Powell's public career started in his 20's as a noted statisician in the U.S. Treasury Department during the Civil War. After the war Powell became very involved in three publishing companies which combined his business and social reform interests. Powell also founded several social reform organizations. He was a noted public speaker, writer and cartographer. He also delved into photography as well as design and promotion of his inventions of an improved rifle and army cot.
