The Annie Powell Historical Photograph Collection

Born Elizabeth Hannah Townend in Meltham, West Yorkshire, England, she preferred the first name of “Annie” throughout her life. In 1880 she married and ran a photo studio with fellow mill worker John Powell. Her older sister and her husband, Mary Ann and Wright Whiteley, migrated to Lowell, MA, in 1887. About a year later, Powell made the first of about two trips to visit, likely exploring photography opportunities. Some of her work survives from this time, including unattributed works in souvenir books and documentation for the many construction projects of Proprietors of Locks and Canals. Several cabinet cards in this collection date from this period. Her trips were apparently ahead of her husband who in 1892 joined her to permanently move to Lowell. There, initially in partnership with Wright Whitely, they operated several photo studios until in 1906 when they lost their home and studio to financial ruin. The couple separated for about 14 years as John pursued other commercial ventures and Annie continued to freelance for Proprietors of Locks and Canals and Lowell’s City Engineers department. In her 92nd year, she took at least 100 construction site photos, until a few months before her death.