Our Mission
By Annie Powell, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, promotes the life and work of pioneering Lowell photographer Annie Powell (b. 1859, West Yorkshire, England–d. 1952, Lowell MA) through the acquisition, preservation, authentication of her images, scholarly research, and by organizing public exhibitions, events, and educational programs. As champions of Powell’s work our aim is to create a place for her in the diverse narrative of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Chasing Annie Powell: 100 Posters Project
A major pop-up exhibition Chasing Annie Powell: 100 Posters Project in Lowell is ongoing from March 2024 to October 2025, and a week of events is planned for October 2025.
Staff
Bernie Zelitch, founder and director
Retired from careers in journalism, software engineering, and songwriting
Eileen Powers, M.F.A., curator
Scholar, photographer, designer, and PhD student at Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts
Board
Bob Bacon, treasurer, Lowell native and graduate of UMass Lowell, business owner, and Annie Powell’s great great grand nephew.
Bradford MacGowan, Ed.D., board of directors, retired educator, and Lowell historian.
Alexandrea Healey, board of directors, Annie Powell’s great great great grand niece. Family archivist in March, 2021, when Powell’s final effects were first identified.
Rebekah Burgess Abramovich, Ph.D, board of directors, former researcher of Annie Powell images, and historic images archivist.
Sam Zelitch, board of directors, digital media community manager.
Robert Forrant, Ph.D., board of directors, UMass Lowell distinguished history professor and active speaker and writer.
Contributors
Laura Tavares, marketing and social media
Partners
Funding includes a generous gift from the Parker Foundation, Lowell.
Formal collaborations include Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.
Above: Annie took this photo around 1903, probably of a student at the Lowell Normal School which trained teachers. In the J. & E.H. Powell brandmark under the photo, Annie’s husband John is the “J.” and Annie is the "E.H." as Annie’s birth name Elizabeth Hannah. Often on advertising and it other brandmarks, she also received equal billing. This may have been a way to highlight Annie’s talent at a time when the J. & E.H. Powell studio was failing. (Feb., 2024 acquisition, by Annie Powell, Inc.)
Your tax-deductible donation supports the preservation, research and promotion of Annie Powell’s legacy.
Contact
Email: info@byAnniePowell.org
Please reach out with your questions, queries, and suggestions.