George May Powell Holy Land Collection
Preliminary arrangement and description by D. Tambo; latest revision A. Demeter
Department of Special Collections
Davidson Library
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Phone: (805) 893-3062
Fax: (805) 893-5749
Email: special@library.ucsb.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections/
© 2012
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Preliminary Guide to the George May Powell Holy Land Collection, ca. 1873-1900
Collection number: Bernath Mss 131
Department of Special Collections
Davidson Library
University of California, Santa Barbara
- Processed by:
- D. Tambo
- Date Completed:
- June 7, 2012
- Encoded by:
- A. Demeter
© 2012 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: George May Powell Holy Land Collection
Dates: ca. 1873-1900
Collection number: Bernath Mss 131
Collection Size:
.2 linear feet
(1 half-sized document box).
Repository:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Dept. of Special Collections
Abstract: Documents relating to cartographer and "Bible geographer" George May Powell of the Oriental Topographical Corps, including
maps of Palestine, correspondence, photographs, and other ephemera.
Physical location: Del Norte (boxes 1-2); Del Norte Oversize (box 3).
Languages:
English
Access Restrictions
None.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Item description], George May Powell Holy Land Collection. Bernath Mss 131. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library,
University of California, Santa Barbara.
Acquisition Information
Purchase, 2004.
Biography
From vendor description: 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 20s as a noted statistician in the U.S. Treasury Department during
the Civil War. After the war Powell became very involved in publishing companies and founded several social reform organizations.
He was a noted public speaker, writer, and cartographer. In later years he organized a trip to Egypt and Palestine. Upon returning
to the United States, he gave lectures about his experiences dressed in his "Oriental outfit."
Scope and Content of Collection
Documents relating to cartographer and "Bible geographer" George May Powell of the Oriental Topographical Corps, including
maps of Palestine, correspondence, photographs, and other ephemera.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Oriental Topographical Corps
Powell, George May
Palestine--Historical geography
Box 1: 1
Leaf - black and white photo of Abou Ben Adhem, c. 1892, with a map of Palestine by George May Powell dated 1886 glued to
the back
Box 1: 2
Correspondence - primarily to Prof. James Strong from prospective Engineer Corps candidates for Strong's expedition to Egypt
and Palestine, Sept. 1873; and one letter to Strong from Powell, Oriental Topographical Corps, agreeing to accept tourists
on their tours, Dec. 27, 1873
Box 1: 3
Maps - of Palestine by Powell,
c. 1883-1892
Box 1: 4
Memorandum - Agreement between Powell and Charles Burns of Rochester, New York, that Burns will recruit subscriptions to the
Oriental Topographical Corps,
Sept. 24, 1874
Box 1: 5
Photographs - Two mounted black and white photos with captions, "Cleopatra Needle, Alexandria, Egypt, brought to Central Park,
New York City, 1873" and "Mosk [sic] of Omar on site of Solomon's Temple, Jerusalem"
Program for lecture by Powell, Philadelphia,
Mar. 31, 1885
Pennsylvania Herald, vol. 6, no. 9, July 1900 - with cover photo of Powell and small entry on him, pp. 8-9
Assignments of Copyrights, Powell to George May Powell Publishing Company, Limited,
Mar. 6, 1900
Ticket to George May Powell's Oriental Reception
Pasted clippings on lectures by Powell,
Nov. 15-16, 1882