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Carthage, Missouri

Powers Family History

Museum Mission & History

Museum billboard announcing Carthage Acoustic Music Festival and the Missouri Humanities Council's Chautauqua program.

For a generation now, the Powers Museum has focused on Carthage's history with annual exhibits of selected themes from the post Civil War period to the 20th century. Also, the museum has fostered the study of Carthage history through use of its archives and reference library, by providing educational programming on-site and off-site, and by producing cooperative community events such as Chautauqua. Won't you join us in this mission by visiting in 2008? Click here for 2008 schedule of activities.

Marian Powers Winchester

Opened in 1988, the museum was created by the generosity of lifelong Carthaginian Marian Powers Winchester. At her death in 1981, Mrs. Winchester left a bequest to the City of Carthage "for the establishment and operation of a museum for the citizens of Carthage and the surrounding area." She requested the museum's name honor her parents Dr. Everett Powers (1869–1954) and Marian Wright Powers (1880–1969).

In addition to the original museum collection left by the Winchester estate, the museum accepts donations of artifacts and archival pieces related to the history of Carthage and her citizens in order to expand the founding collection. Click here to see an example of recent gifts.

Since opening in June 1988, the museum has presented more than four dozen main gallery exhibits and approximately three dozen traveling exhibits and temporary displays. More than 100,000 visitors have participated in the museum's exhibits, special events and programs. These events and programs have included lectures, craft workshops, antique identification sessions, music festivals and Chautauqua presentations. In addition, the Powers Museum supports participation in the National History Day Contest and judges at Missouri's Region 6 competition held at Missouri Southern State University. Currently the museum is involved in several special projects including two Teaching American History Grants, the Carthage Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, and two on-going, multi-institutional research projects devoted to Highway 66 (in Missouri) and the Jefferson Highway (national route from Canada to New Orleans). Museum staff members are available to talk to school and adult groups about these activities and more! Click here to see our Speakers Bureau offerings.

Historic photographs from the museum's collections were used as backgrounds for many of the Carthage Public Library's new identification signs. The largest sign is for the Children's Department and features Robert Curtis Briggs and Cullen Wright Briggs as photographed by Steward's Studio of Carthage, circa 1902.

The Powers Museum is open March 12 through December 20 during 2008. Admission is free.

Other Services
The museum's Local History Reference Library is open until 4:00 PM (on days the museum is open to the public). Appointments are required temporarily for library use due to special projects associated with the library that will be conducted throughout July through September. See new Powers Museum Research Blog for further details and updates.Use of the Museum's Archives requires advance appointment at all times.

The museum also conducts oral history interviews, particularly with war veterans and homefront workers in Jasper County for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. For more information on the local project, click here. In 2008–09, the museum would like to expand its subject areas for its oral history initiative to include interviews with former employees of local industries such as Leggett & Platt, H. E. Williams, Smith Brothers Manufacturing, and Carthage Marble Corporation. If you know of someone who should be interviewed, please contact the museum.

Also on site is a Museum Gift Shop featuring books and reproduction gift items. Four-state tourist brochures, Missouri state tourism guides and Route 66 driving directions for Carthage and Jasper County are available, too.

Museum Support & Administration
The museum is administered by a board of seven community volunteers appointed by the Mayor of Carthage and they meet monthly at the museum, usually on the third Monday evening of the month. Public notices are posted at Carthage City Hall and at the museum.

The Powers Museum receives no tax support and is operated through donations, museum shop revenue, fundraising projects and the original Winchester bequest to the City of Carthage. An Advisory Committee, created by the Winchester will, also assists with the museum's operation.

The Powers Museum's endowment is managed by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

The Powers Museum Web site is searchable. Use the box below to enter the particular information you are looking for and you will instantly be given a list of results.

Copyright © 2008 Powers Museum
1617 West Oak • P.O. Box 593 • Carthage, MO 64836
e-mail:infonow@powersmuseum.com  |  phone: 417-358-2667
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