author
George Whitefield Powers
1834–1903
Best remembered for compiling handy reference books, this late-19th-century writer and editor helped readers keep poems, prose, and historical facts close at hand. His books have the practical, browseable feel of a well-stocked desk library.
1 Audiobook
The story of the Thirty Eighth regiment of Massachusetts volunteers
by George Whitefield Powers
About the author
George Whitefield Powers (1834–1903) was an American compiler, editor, and author whose surviving works suggest a talent for organizing information in useful, readable form. He is credited with books including Important Events; a Book of Dates, Handy Dictionary of Prose Quotations, and Handy Dictionary of Poetical Quotations.
He also wrote The Story of the Thirty Eighth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, showing an interest not only in quotations and reference material but also in historical record and remembrance. Much of the biographical detail about his personal life is hard to confirm from readily available sources, but his published work clearly places him among the energetic literary compilers of the late 1800s.
For modern readers, Powers is interesting because his books were built to be used, not just admired. Whether gathering memorable lines or key dates, he wrote the kind of volumes people returned to again and again when they wanted a quick fact, a fitting quotation, or a doorway into history.