Box 13

The Dennis M. Powers papers contain research materials including interviews and notes used in the authorship of several books

The materials mainly concern shipwrecks in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, both in the United States and England. There are several photocopies of written primary source documents as well as copies of typewritten transcriptions. Of note, the first item is a discussion of the results of a debate concerning the Brother Jonathan wreck at the 1999 gathering of the American Numismatic Association.

The research guide describes the Pacific Sierra Region of the National Archives in San Bruno, California (1995) compiled by Larisa K. Miller and Nancy Malan.

Of the three publications, two are issues of Numismatist magazine, the official publication of the American Numismatic Association. The first issue is from January 2005, and the second is from January 2007. The third publication is a book covering a coin collection: The Dr. Jerry Buss Collection of United States Coins (January 28, 29, 30, 1985).

The two items are related to an entity known as Deep Sea Research, Inc. and their involvement in recovering treasure from the Brother Jonathan wreck. The first item is a blue binder entitled the "Blue Book," dated to 1991 with materials inside dated to the nineteenth century. The second item is another report from further exploration efforts in 1997 with many color photos of treasure recovered from the wreck.

The series contains materials related to Dennis Powers' historical research and the writing of the books “Treasure Ship," and "Taking the Sea." The materials include papers concerning the publication and the promotion for the book. “Treasure Ship" was published in 2006. “Taking the Sea,” was published in 2009.