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Powers, Dennis M.

 Person

Biography

Dennis M. Powers first began writing poetry while practicing law in Santa Barbara. Later his work expanded to include newspaper and magazine articles, fiction, and nonfiction books.

His early nonfiction works include Legal Street Smarts (1994), Beating the Tough Times (1995), Legal Expense Defense (1995), The Office Romance (1998), and The Internet Legal Guide (2001). In 2005, Dennis published The Raging Sea, his first book about maritime stories and events. Other books in this genre include Treasure Ship (2006), Sentinel of the Seas (2007), Taking the Sea (2008), and Tales of the Seven Seas: The Escapades of Captain Dynamite Johnny O'Brien (2010).

Living in Ashland, Oregon inspired Dennis to research local history. He wrote hundreds of scripts and historical treatises for local radio programs. He created the local history book, Images of America: Gold Hill (2010) to benefit the Gold Hill Historical Society. He also created an audiobook, “Past and Present: What You Might Not Know (But Want To) About Southern Oregon History" (2013) and used the proceeds to contribute to local charitable causes.

Dennis received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Colorado in Boulder, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver Law School, and a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School. He is Professor Emeritus of business law at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon and resides there with his wife, Judy.

Found in 352 Collections and/or Records:

Hawaii State Archives photos, 1790-2008

 File — Box 04: Series MSS043:04 [Barcode: 35138008124346], Folder: 2
Identifier: MSS043:04.04.02
Scope and Contents

The photos are from the Hawaii state archives requested by Powers for his research. Included are copies of photographs of ships, ports, and political figures in Hawaii, mostly from the 19th century. Also included is some correspondence between Powers and the archives office.

Dates: 1790-2008

Historical museum pictures, 2000-2004

 File — Box 04: Series MSS043:01 [Barcode: 35138008124023], Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS043:01.04.01
Scope and Contents

A series of images from the Crescent City tsunami of 1964 retrieved from the Del Norte County Historical Society. The materials include correspondence between Mr. Powers and the Historical Society concerning the photographs..

Dates: 2000-2004

Historical records and firsthand accounts, 1999-2001

 File — Box 01: Series MSS043:01 [Barcode: 35138008123991], Folder: 5
Identifier: MSS043:01.01.05
Scope and Contents

The historical records and firsthand accounts contain Mr. Powers' summary of Frank Boynton's experience in the 1964 Tsunami in Crescent City, California, and photocopies of three documents containing Del Norte County history starting in the mid-19th century.

Dates: 1999-2001

Historical Society release, 2004

 File — Box 04: Series MSS043:01 [Barcode: 35138008124023], Folder: 2
Identifier: MSS043:01.04.02
Scope and Contents

A series of images from the Crescent City tsunami of 1964 retrieved from the Del Norte County Historical Society. Materials also contain a release form from the Del Norte Historical Society granting permission to use specific photographs and signed by Mr. Powers.

Dates: 2004

History, 2000-205

 File — Box 04: Series MSS043:02 [Barcode: 35138008124130], Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS043.02.04.01
Scope and Contents

The articles concern the history of steamships and related treasures. Topics include the history of west coast steamers in the US, the treasure aboard a steamship from Rio De Janeiro, and the Brother Jonathan. Most materials are from the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon.

Dates: Majority of material found within 2000-205

History of Saint George Reef Lighthouse, 2002-2006

 File — Box 01: Series MSS043:03 [Barcode: 35138008124254], Folder: 6
Identifier: MSS043:03.01.06
Scope and Contents

The research materials focus on the Saint George Reef Lighthouse. The newspaper article notes the wreck the steamer, Brother Jonathan. Additional newspaper articles, records from the National Archives, and United States Coast Guard documents provide historical references and mention Fred Permenter.

Dates: 2002-2006

Illustrations of Brother Jonathan, 1996-2005

 File — Box 01: Series MSS043:02 [Barcode: 35138008124106], Folder: 8
Identifier: MSS043:02.01.08
Scope and Contents

This folder contains many illustrations of the Brother Jonathan shipwreck. Also included here are items related to the treasure on board the Brother Jonathan. These items include a cover letter from Dep Sea Research, Inc., and a report by the Heritage Capital Corporation.

Dates: 1996-2005

Images of lighthouses, 2006

 File — Box 02: Series MSS043:03 [Barcode: 35138008124262], Folder: 10
Identifier: MSS043:03.02.10
Scope and Contents

The images depict various lighthouses and lighthouse keepers. The featured lighthouses include Saint George Reef, Tillamook Rock, Battery Point, and Minot's Point.

Dates: 2006

In Admiralty, 2002

 File — Box 03: Series MSS043:02 [Barcode: 35138008124122], Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS043.02.03.01
Scope and Contents

The materials concern the steamship Brother Jonathan. The research materials include a filing in the northern district of California district court of the United States lawsuits regarding the steamship Brother Jonathan, a newspaper article recounting the tale of the survivors of the shipwreck. Additional materials are an essay about the numismatist John J. Ford, Jr., a magazine article on the last of the guano traders, and a diagram of a steamship.

Dates: Majority of material found in 2002

Indian Ocean tsunami, 1999-2005

 File — Box 10: Series MSS043:01 [Barcode: 35138008124080], Folder: 6
Identifier: MSS043:01.10.06
Scope and Contents

The newspaper articles concern tsunamis, most notably the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

Dates: 1999-2005

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 350
Collection 2
 
Subject
Shipwrecks 173
Ships and Shipping 151
Authorship 72
Northwest, Pacific 60
Natural disasters 46