Exploring America's Diversity: Luther Powell (Intermediate)
Making Connections
All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.Introduction
In this activity, you will learn about the life of a man named Luther Powell – including when he came to the United States as an immigrant, settled in the United States, and became a U.S. citizen.You will see a ship passenger arrival list, a census record, and a naturalization document. These kinds of documents contain details about the lives of millions of Americans. You will learn about the immigration process and see what trends you can find in these government forms.
Look at each document below — click "View Document Details" to see it more closely. After each document, read the questions that follow, and answer them in the response boxes.
Name:
Class:
Class:
Worksheet
Exploring America's Diversity: Luther Powell (Intermediate)
Making Connections
Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Fill in any blanks in the sequence with your thoughts and write your conclusion response in the space provided.Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Manchioneal
Questions About the Ship
1. What was the name of the ship Luther Powell arrived on?
2. What city or country did the ship come from?
3. What year did the ship arrive in America?
1. What was the name of the ship Luther Powell arrived on?
2. What city or country did the ship come from?
3. What year did the ship arrive in America?
Enter your response
Questions About Luther Powell
1. What number row is Luther Powell listed on?
2. How old was he when he came to America?
3. What was his job (Hint: see calling or occupation)?
4. Was he able to read and write?
5. What was his nationality and race?
6. What was his final destination in America?
7. How much money did he have when he came to America?
Note: The ditto mark is a symbol (") that signifies ditto, meaning the same as above or before.
1. What number row is Luther Powell listed on?
2. How old was he when he came to America?
3. What was his job (Hint: see calling or occupation)?
4. Was he able to read and write?
5. What was his nationality and race?
6. What was his final destination in America?
7. How much money did he have when he came to America?
Note: The ditto mark is a symbol (") that signifies ditto, meaning the same as above or before.
Enter your response
Open-ended Questions
1. Looking at the top of each column, scan the other questions that U.S. immigration officials asked. What do you think was the most interesting question? Why do you think they asked it?
2. Scan the details of the other passengers on board the same ship as Luther Powell. Are there any similarities or differences between the passengers? Are there any apparent trends?
1. Looking at the top of each column, scan the other questions that U.S. immigration officials asked. What do you think was the most interesting question? Why do you think they asked it?
2. Scan the details of the other passengers on board the same ship as Luther Powell. Are there any similarities or differences between the passengers? Are there any apparent trends?
Enter your response
Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Bradhurst Avenue, Manhattan
Questions About Luther Powell's Neighborhood
1. In 1930, in what state and city did Luther Powell live?
2. What street did he live on in 1930?
1. In 1930, in what state and city did Luther Powell live?
2. What street did he live on in 1930?
Enter your response
Questions About Luther Powell's Family
1. Who is listed as “Head” of Household; on what line is the “Head” listed?
2. Who else was Luther Powell living with in 1930?
3. Did Powell rent or own his home? What was the cost?
4. Did he have a radio set at home?
Note: Head of Household was the person in charge of the household and generally the Census designated the head of the family as the husband or father, widowed woman, or unmarried person of either sex.
1. Who is listed as “Head” of Household; on what line is the “Head” listed?
2. Who else was Luther Powell living with in 1930?
3. Did Powell rent or own his home? What was the cost?
4. Did he have a radio set at home?
Note: Head of Household was the person in charge of the household and generally the Census designated the head of the family as the husband or father, widowed woman, or unmarried person of either sex.
Enter your response
Questions About Luther Powell
1. Was Luther Powell married? If so, how old was he when he married?
2. What language (or mother tongue) did Powell speak before coming to the United States?
3. What did he do for a job in 1930? (Hint: See occupation and industry.)
1. Was Luther Powell married? If so, how old was he when he married?
2. What language (or mother tongue) did Powell speak before coming to the United States?
3. What did he do for a job in 1930? (Hint: See occupation and industry.)
Enter your response
Open-ended Questions
1. Looking at other people on the census record, what can you tell about this neighborhood?
2. Are there any similarities or differences between the residents?
3. Are there any apparent trends?
1. Looking at other people on the census record, what can you tell about this neighborhood?
2. Are there any similarities or differences between the residents?
3. Are there any apparent trends?
Enter your response
Declaration of Intention for Luther Theophilus Powell
Questions About Luther Powell
1. What district court did Luther Powell declare his intent to naturalize in?
2. What was Powell’s street address when he naturalized?
3. What was his occupation?
4. What were his eye and hair color?
5. What were his height and weight?
6. What were his race and nationality?
7. In what city and country was Powell born?
8. What was his birthday?
9. Did he change his name after arriving in the United States?
10. What year did he declare his intent to become a U.S. citizen?
1. What district court did Luther Powell declare his intent to naturalize in?
2. What was Powell’s street address when he naturalized?
3. What was his occupation?
4. What were his eye and hair color?
5. What were his height and weight?
6. What were his race and nationality?
7. In what city and country was Powell born?
8. What was his birthday?
9. Did he change his name after arriving in the United States?
10. What year did he declare his intent to become a U.S. citizen?
Enter your response
Open-ended Question
1. Read the citizenship oath located in the paragraph directly above Luther Powell's signature (starting with "I will..."). What do you think is most interesting about this oath? Explain.
1. Read the citizenship oath located in the paragraph directly above Luther Powell's signature (starting with "I will..."). What do you think is most interesting about this oath? Explain.
Enter your response
1
Activity Element
Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Manchioneal
Page 3
2
Activity Element
Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Bradhurst Avenue, Manhattan
Page 3
3
Activity Element
Declaration of Intention for Luther Theophilus Powell
Page 1
Conclusion
Exploring America's Diversity: Luther Powell (Intermediate)
Making Connections
- What did you find most interesting about this activity?
- What did you find most difficult about this activity?
- If you could ask Luther Powell any question not asked through these three documents, what would you ask him? Why?
Your Response
Document
Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Manchioneal
4/20/1920
This document lists arrivals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from the vessel SS Manchioneal. The list was recorded on a standard manifest form and contains 33 columns of information, including age, occupation, address, nearest relative or friend, destination, physical description, and place of birth.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Full Citation: Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Manchioneal; 4/20/1920; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1/1/1883 - 12/31/1945; Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/manifest-of-alien-passengers-on-the-ss-manchioneal, October 12, 2024]Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Manchioneal
Page 3
Document
Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Bradhurst Avenue, Manhattan
4/15/1930
This page from the Fifteenth Census includes houses located on Bradhurst Avenue, in Manhattan, New York. This form includes a wealth of information about the individuals recorded, including place of birth, occupation, and military service.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
Full Citation: Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Bradhurst Avenue, Manhattan; 4/15/1930; Population Schedules for the 1930 Census, 1930 - 1930; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/1930-census-bradhurst-ave-manhattan, October 12, 2024]Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Bradhurst Avenue, Manhattan
Page 3
Document
Declaration of Intention for Luther Theophilus Powell
12/12/1929
Luther Powell emigrated from Kingston, Jamaica, entering the United States at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aboard the Manchioneal on April 26, 1920. He filed this Declaration of Intention to become a U.S. citizen on December 12, 1929. His son, Colin, went on to become a National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State.
This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 597950
Full Citation: Declaration of Intention for Luther Theophilus Powell; 12/12/1929; Petitions for Naturalization, 1824 - 1991; Records of District Courts of the United States, ; National Archives at New York, New York, NY. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/declaration-intention-powell, October 12, 2024]Declaration of Intention for Luther Theophilus Powell
Page 1
