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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the William H. Powell Correspondence
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Powell, William H. | |
| Title | William H. Powell Correspondence, | |
| Dates: | 1843-1853 | |
| Abstract: | There are only twelve letters in this file, virtually all of which are addressed to Powell from New York (City). The chief correspondents are John S. Hanna and A. W. Nicholson, individuals with whom he lived in the Asylum, and who like him, were either in the process of being apprenticed or had been apprenticed. All or virtually all have the integral address-leaf, and most are addressed to Powell in care of Mr. Byram. They are dated, 1843-1853. | |
| Extent: | 1 box, .2 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | P-5 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
No biographical information regarding William H. Powell has been located. Judging from his correspondence, however, he was probably in his mid-teens in 1843. Evidently, he had been reared, or at least spent some time, at the New York Orphan Asylum in what is now the borough of Manhattan. Sometime around 1843, he was apprenticed out by the asylum to a Mr. E. (Ephraim?) P. Byram (or Byrum) of Sag Harbor. An 1868-69 directory lists an E. Byram as a bookbinder, but it is not too clear from the correspondence if, indeed, the Byram to whom young Powell was apprenticed was a book binder. It would seem from the contents of at least one letter that he may have been in some mechanical type of business. It is known, incidentally, that William H. Powell had at least one sister, Elizabeth M. Powell, and that she too evidently at one time resided in the asylum.
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Scope and Content Note
There are only twelve letters in this file, virtually all of which are addressed to Powell from New York (City). The chief correspondents are John S. Hanna and A. W. Nicholson, individuals with whom he lived in the Asylum, and who like him, were either in the process of being apprenticed or had been apprenticed. All or virtually all have the integral address-leaf, and most are addressed to Powell in care of Mr. Byram. They are dated, 1843-1853.
These are all personal letters and by and large discuss days spent at the Asylum and mutual friends there. Also very briefly touched upon are such topics as a fire in Sag Harbor, work of apprentices, and a description of a machine apparently designed by A. W. Nicholson.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a photograph its control number. The William H. Powell Correspondence, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions. Manuscripts are only available in the Archives at Queens Library, please call (718) 990-0770 for hours. Manuscript users will be required to complete the division's Manuscript Usage Form and deposit their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card with a staff member. The identification will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material. Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk. Manuscript users must use the division's loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pen of any type is permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request. Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
- Archives at Queens Library
- Queens Borough Public Library
- 89-11 Merrick Boulevard
- Jamaica, NY 11432
- Phone: (718) 990-0770.
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Access Points
Subject Names
- Powell, William H.
Subject Places:
- Sag Harbor (N.Y.)
Document Types:
- Correspondence
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
