Poole, Henry W. (Henry Ward), 1825-1890

Henry Ward Poole (1825-1890) was an American engineer, professor and collector of Mexicana. He worked as an engineer for the Mexican Pacific Coal and Iron Mining and Land Company in 1856-1857 and then returned to Mexico to teach at the College of Mines in Mexico City and amass his collection of Mexican documents.

Henry Ward Poole (1825-1890), engineer, professor, and collector of Mexicana, was the brother of William Frederick Poole (1821-1894), noted librarian and historian. Henry Ward Poole attended Yale University and in the 1850s became a property agent in Pottsville, Pa. In 1856-1857, he was in Mexico as an engineer for the Mexican Pacific Coal and Iron Mining and Land Company, which had a government commission to conduct a geological survey of Mexico. Poole's task was to draw a map for a proposed railway link between Veracruz and Mexico City. Eventually, Poole returned to Mexico to live and work as a professor at the College of Mines in Mexico City. He became an avid collector of Mexicana and corresponded often with the American Antiquarian Society regarding rare books and manuscripts that he had discovered.

Biographical Note: Henry Poole lived in Adelaide, South Australia during the late nineteenth century.

Poole was married, and he was the father of several children. Poole held a position with the church, and most likely was assigned to South Australia during the period of British colonization.

Henry Ward Poole (1825-1890) was an American engineer, professor and collector of Mexicana.

He worked as an engineer for the Mexican Pacific Coal and Iron Mining and Land Company in 1856-1857 and then returned to Mexico to teach at the College of Mines in Mexico City and amass his collection of Mexican documents.