Powell's Remains

[Joe Di Cola]

(10-01-2012 01:23 PM)L Verge Wrote:  That is the plaque marking the burial site of Powell's skull next to his mother's grave in a quaint cemetery in Geneva, Florida. Betty's contacts with the descendants over the years made much of this possible.

Very few people know that the Powell family clammed up for years to researchers because of the previous treatment that Lewis had received at the hands of early authors (and still some today). When Betty took up the cause, however, she approached her subject matter with an open mind - as any good researcher does. She wanted to know about the MAN first and then the conspiracy. She was also young, enthusiastic, had a wonderful southern accent (which helped with generations of descendants who had lived in the South), and was polite.

The Powell doors opened up to her, she was welcomed in, handed family letters and photos, and literally became part of the family. When her book was published, she was invited to Florida on a speaking engagement, and several of us went with her. We met quite a few of the descendants and they took us out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant where I ate alligator tail and loved it! Betty has maintained that friendship throughout the years, and it is because of her that other researchers gained information on the intriguing Lewis Powell.

When an anthropologist at the Smithsonian literally stumbled upon the skull of Powell, he contacted Michael Kauffman first because the anthropologist had previously worked at Ford's Theatre and knew about the Society's Booth tours and Kauffman's interests. With Betty's assistance, the Powell family was actually able to have the skull returned to the family. In the early-1990s, Betty had a small casket made for the skull and flew to Florida for the graveside service.

It is very unlikely that we will ever be able to identify the rest of Lewis's remains, but at least the skull that held the brain that loved his family is in Florida beside his mother -- thanks to a researcher who cared about her subject, not just about writing a book.

Laurie,
Thanks ever so much for the information. I was wondering if, after reading the item in the "Courier", the skull might have been buried in Florida, and this clears up my questions. I am moved by the description of the skull that held the brain that loved his family. Historians and biographers do need to care about their subjects and, in the case of the latter, do so without a lot of hagiography entering the process. Betty has managed this wonderfully.
Joe