Object 45: Cast of John Powell's Hand

An acclaimed pianist and composer, John Powell graduated from the University of Virginia in 1901 and, upon his death in 1963, was declared “one of the genuinely great Virginians of modern times.” That judgment has been challenged in recent years by historians who cite his fervent support for eugenics and scientific racism.

Cast of the Hand of the Pianist John Powell, undated (MSS 7345-a)

Gift of Christel Kerry