Who is Annie Powell?

Between 1891 and 1942, Annie Powell took over 3,000 portraits, municipal and mill worker photos in Lowell, MA. She choreographed her neighbors into tableaus which can interpreted as allegorical. Using glass plate negatives, she altered copy negatives with chemicals and tools and created artistic effects like double exposures.

She was born Elizabeth Hannah Townend in 1859, second oldest of seven children in West Yorkshire, England. Throughout her life she preferred to be called “Annie.”

In 1891, she emigrated to Lowell about a hear ahead of her husband, John Powell. Family connections helped her secure municipal and souvenir book work. When her husband joined her, they established a commercial photo studio. When the studio business failed in 1906, John continued as an eyeglass fitter and she continued as a contract photographer until her mid-80s.

John died in 1928 and Annie died in 1952 at age 92 . Click here to view a Powell Studio 1906 ad