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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:

Captain Dynamite Research Materials and Notes (6 of 6), 1899-2007

 File — Box 01: Series MSS043:04 [Barcode: 35138008124312], Folder: 6
Identifier: MSS043:04.01.06
Scope and Contents

These materials are research materials and notes for Powers' research of Captain Dynamite Johnny O'Brien and the the time period in which he lived. Included are articles, photocopies of primary sources from archives, newspaper clippings, photographs, and Powers' own notes and correspondence.

Dates: 1899-2007

CD-ROMs, 2009-2010

 File — Box 06: Series MSS043:04 [Barcode: 35138008124361], Folder: 2
Identifier: MSS043:04.06.02
Scope and Contents

Three CD-ROMs. The first is a film of Powers presenting a slideshow about his book, Tales of the Seven Seas. The second is a collection of photos from the Hawaii State Archives. The last CD is labeled: "UAF Photo order 8-337."

Dates: 2009-2010

Certified mail, 1999-2008

 File — Box 01: Series MSS043:02 [Barcode: 35138008124106], Folder: 4
Identifier: MSS043:02.01.04
Scope and Contents

This folder contains certified mail, correspondences, a copy of a settlement agreement and release between Richard Hansen, Deep Sea Research, Inc., and Brother Jonathan, LLC, handwritten notes, and interview transcripts.

Dates: 1999-2008

Channel 5 News

 File — Box 11: Series MSS043:01 [Barcode: 35138008124098], Object: 14
Identifier: MSS043:01.11.14
Scope and Contents

A video cassette of an interview of Dennis Powers about his book on Channel 5.

Dates: 1999-2000s

Coin books, 2004-2005

 File — Box 06: Series MSS043:02 [Barcode: 35138008124155], Folder: 2
Identifier: MSS043.02.06.02
Scope and Contents

This folder contains various items related to gold coins found on sunken ships. The majority of the items found here come from coinbooks.com, but this file also includes a national geographic article entitled "Lost Gold Bounty From a Civil War Ship."

Dates: 2004-2005

Coinage of the American West, 1982

 File — Box 02: Series MSS043:02 [Barcode: 35138008124114], Folder: 2
Identifier: MSS043:02.02.02
Scope and Contents

An auction guide for a collection of coins entitled "Coinage of the American West" featuring the collection of Henry H. Clifford and offered by Bowers and Ruddy Galleries.

Dates: 1982

Coins, 2002-2004

 File — Box 03: Series MSS043:02 [Barcode: 35138008124122], Folder: 4
Identifier: MSS0043.02.03.04
Scope and Contents

The materials include internet searches concerning coins in general and coins related to the Brother Jonathan steamship.

Dates: 2002-2004

Compilation of Dynamite Johnny O'Brien photos, [undated]

 File — Box 04: Series MSS043:04 [Barcode: 35138008124346], Folder: 5
Identifier: MSS043:04.04.05
Scope and Contents

These materials constitute a compilation of photos from Powers' research of Captain Dynamite Johnny O'Brien. These are a consolidated collection of some of the photos from the earlier folders in this box. They seem to be a first draft of photos to be included in his book, Tales of the Seven Seas. The photos are undated.

Dates: [undated]

Correspondence and documents, 2005

 File — Box 05: Series MSS043:03 [Barcode: 35138008124296], Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS043:03.05.01
Scope and Contents

The materials include several excerpts from annual reports between 1874-1904, a construction report of 1892, and correspondence addressed to Dennis Powers regarding a review of an early draft of his book. The documents are from historical sources and concern the funding and construction of the Saint George Reef lighthouse.

Dates: 2005

Correspondence and interview notes, 2005-2006

 File — Box 03: Series MSS043:03 [Barcode: 35138008124270], Folder: 7
Identifier: MSS043:03.03.07
Scope and Contents

The correspondence concerns research about people connected to the construction, operation, and rebuilding of the Saint George Reef Lighthouse. Featured people include Alexander Ballantyne, Albert Henry Payson, John E. Lind, Theophilus Magruder, David Chalmers, Floyd Shelton, Don Nuss, John R. Trewavas, and Guy Towers.

Dates: 2005-2006

Additional filters:

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