2006 Gifts

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.

Mrs. Judy Turner unveiling her gift of "Modern Blue Boy" which she gave to the City of Carthage and Big Smith Employees in memory of Gene Lewis Turner, CFO and Executive Vice-President of Smith Brothers Manufacturing (aka Big Smith). This gift was presented to the Powers Museum in October of 2006 during a special reception for Mrs. Turner and former employees of Smith Brothers Manufacturing.

Artist William Sanson of Huntington Beach, California, beside his creation "Modern Blue Boy" completed in 1954. This image was purchased by Smith Brothers Manufacturing and used in print advertising for company products in the 1950s and early 1960s. Reproduction prints were distributed to retailers selling Big Smith goods. Anyone with information on Sanson is asked to contact the museum as our searches for biographical information have not been successful. Photograph donated by Richard Ferguson of Carthage.

Group of other donations relating to Big Smith including a pair of "Fun-alls" and miscellaneous archival items including WWII era newsletters produced for the Carthage/Neosho/Webb City and Saint Joseph plants featuring news from former workers in military service. These items were given by an anonymous donor who acquired most of them at Rachael Thornton's (editor of the newsletters) estate sale and the final plant closing auction several years ago.

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