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 (IDSVA)
Board
Bob Bacon, treasurer, Lowell native and graduate of UMass Lowell, business owner, and Annie Powell’s great-great-grandnephew
Bradford MacGowan, Ed.D., board of directors, retired educator, and Lowell historian
Alexandrea Healey, board of directors, Annie Powell’s great-great-great-grandniece, family archivist
Rebekah Burgess Abramovich, Ph.D, board of directors, Annie Powell image researcher, 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
Jeannine Swallow, board of directors, professional photographer and M.F.A. student at Clark University. Annie Powell’s great-great-grandniece
Eileen Powers, M.F.A., visual arts scholar
Contributors
Laura Tavares, marketing and social media
Partners
Funding includes a generous gifts from the Parker Foundation, Lowell, Mass Cultural Council, and contributions from Enterprise Bank.
Formal collaborations include Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, New England Quilt Museumm and Gallagher & Cavanaugh.
Above: Annie took this photo around 1903˘ The subject is thought to be of the first women students of Lowell Textile School. In the J. & E. H. Powell brandmark under the photo, Annie’s husband John is the “J”, and Annie is the "E. H." as her birth name was Elizabeth Hannah. Often on advertising and in other brandmarks, she received equal billing with her husband. This may have been a way to highlight Annie’s talents at a time when the J. & E. H. Powell studio was struggling financially. (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.
by Annie Powell holds a Candid Silver Transparency Seal. This rating indicates that we exceed nonprofit industry standards, and demonstrates our trustworthiness to the public. Candid is the world's largest database of nonprofit organizations.