Carthage Public Library, 6th & Garrison NOTE: Entry now made on east side of structure through new addition. Do not use this entrance for access.

The Powers Museum has some unique resources available to persons looking for background information on businesses, organizations, selected individuals or the general history of Carthage. While we are not the premier stop for genealogical inquiries like the Carthage Public Library (whose collection includes census records, newspaper microfilm, cemetery records, and Sanborn maps) or the Jasper County Records Center (holder of probate records and other governmental records except marriage, death and deed records which are at the County Recorder's office on the second floor of the Bank of America building on the northwest corner of the square), the museum often has information sources not found elsewhere.

While part of the library material is available for informal consultation during regular hours, researchers should make advance inquiries by phone or e-mail prior to visiting the museum. Advance notice permits the museum to arrange for a staff member or volunteer, who is familiar with the library or archive materials, to be available to assist you. "Drop-in" researchers are not guaranteed such assistance or access to all materials you desire and/or a private work area. (All of these matters are subject to museum's previously-scheduled projects, programs and its own research/exhibit work.)

Library Resources
The Powers Museum has an ever-growing reference collection of books and article files that is available during public hours. (Please note requests for materials must be made before 4:00 pm). The museum's strongest subject areas represented are: Carthage History, American Fashion History, Quilts & Quilting and Highway 66 (and related transportation themes). Lesser subject areas include: American Music, Historic Photographs, Leisure Activities, Ozarks Region, Women's History and World War I & II. Again, as noted in paragraph above, it will be helpful to you and the museum to call or e-mail in advance of your visit to discuss your reference library subjects prior to use of the library.

Available for consultation are the following general Carthage/Jasper County titles:

1883 History of Jasper County, Missouri by F.A. North

1901 Biographical Record of Jasper County Missouri by Malcolm G. McGregor

1912 History of Jasper County, Missouri, and its People by Joel T. Livingston, 2 volumes

1995 Jasper County: First Two Hundred Years by Marvin L. VanGilder

1923 Jasper County, Missouri, in the Civil War by Ward Schrantz

City Directory, 1888

Maps and Jasper County Atlases (1876 and 1895) are part of the library collection, as well. Among the city directories held are the years: 1888, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1909, 1917, 1919, 1923, 1925, 1937, 1941, 1947, and selected directories from 1950–1999. (All city directories are available on microfilm at the Carthage Public Library. The 1876 & 1895 county atlas maps are located at the library as well. Use of atlas maps at museum is by appointment only due to size and condition.

For information on 1895 maps and the 1891 Carthage Bird's-eye view print/map, click here.

A limited number of Carthage High School yearbooks and Ozark Wesleyan College yearbooks are available for consultation, too. Check here for updated Carthage School Holdings.

Additional Local History Resources
Other books and booklets on Carthage, including church histories, view books, and other special subjects can be found in the library as well. Research materials and former exhibit mounts are part of the collection, too. Hundreds of vertical files are available covering Carthage subjects.

The following special magazines and journals are available, too: Museum News, History News, Missouri Historical Review, Missouri Route 66 and American Road.

Again, researchers are urged to call or e-mail in advance of their visit to discuss their research projects.

Archival Resources at the Powers Museum
The original bequest from Marian Powers Winchester's estate included a large collection of family correspondence, photographs, and other memorabilia related to the Wright, Powers and Winchester families. Prior appointment necessary for use of all archival collections. This material is not available for walk-in, on-demand use. As with the library materials above, consultation by phone or email prior to your visit, will result in a more successful research visit and allow museum staff to prepare materials and a work space for your use.

Among the subjects in these holdings: Carthage Stone Company, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Episcopal Church, Women's Clubs of Carthage, Carthage Photographs and Postcards, Marian L. Powers Childhood Scrapbooks containing local events and social affairs of the late 1910s through the late 1920s. Also held are Dr. Everett Powers' medical ledgers for his entire practice as well as some office correspondence from the 1930s & 40s.

Non-Carthage topics include: Cooley-Morrison Furniture/Connersville Cabinet Co. of Connersville, IN; Kemper Hall, Kenosha, WI; National Park Seminary; Southwestern Slate Mfg. Co. of Mena, AR, the Civil War service of Curtis Wright and the World War I service of Everett Powers.

For further information on this collection, click here.

Another collection is Curtis Wright's 1915 Genealogy of the Wright Family as Descended from Sir John Wright of England and associated research files and correspondence. For further details on this book, please contact the museum or click here.

Carthage Browns player Jimmie Bilbrey

Since opening, the museum has also received several large archival donations from the community covering: the Pollard Estate (including rental records for the Pollard I & II buildings), Carthage baseball teams of the 1930s-50s, selected construction and loan records for the Jasper County Building & Loan Association, and historical records of the Bank of Carthage as well as other Carthage banks and businesses. Other small gifts have added to the postcard and photograph collections as well as other Carthage subjects. Several local men's and women's organizations such as the Carthage Sportsmen's Protective League, Carthage Council on Social Agencies, and the DAR for example, have donated club records and scrapbooks as groups disband or move to new meeting facilities.

Please note the museum's archival holdings continue to be processed and computerized during 2007–09. Again, prior appointment necessary for use of all archival collections. This material is not available for walk-in, on-demand use. As with the library materials above, consultation by phone or email prior to your visit, will result in a more successful research visit and allow museum staff to prepare materials and a work space for your use.

Remember the museum is closed during mid-December to mid-March. Research inquiries are taken by phone, mail and e-mail only during this period except for persons pursuing research for National History Projects. However, the latter must set up an appointment for on-site consultation by phone or e-mail.

The Powers Museum web site content 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.

Image at the top of this page:
1927 Map of Carthage showing Route 66, "Main Street of America" and Route 71, "Broadway of America" intersecting at the Crossroads of America (Central and Garrison Avenues). Click here to see an expanded view of this map.

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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Library resources

Archival resources

Wright genealogy