Contents

Collection Overview

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Organization of the Collection

Search Terms

Snell Family Papers 1793-1940

Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Daria D'Arienzo, Deborah Pelletier, Melanie Posey.

Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

© 2003

Biographical Note

Ebenezer S. Snell was born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts on October 7, 1801, the son of Dr. Thomas Snell and Tirzah Strong. Snell graduated with the first graduating class at Amherst College in 1822. His life is closely associated with the development of Amherst College. In 1827 he was appointed Instructor of Mathematics. In 1829 he became Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. From 1834 to 1876, he served as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy.

On September 8, 1828, he married Sabra Clark of Conway, Massachusetts. They had five daughters. He died in Amherst on September 18, 1876, at the age of 74.

Basic biographical data for Professor Snell, a copy of which follows, is found in the Amherst College Biographical Record, 1973.

SNELL, Ebenezer Strong. s Rev Dr Thomas and Tirzah (Strong) b No Brookfield Oct 7 1801. MA Amh 1825; LLD Amh 1860; Western Reserve 1865. prep with father and at Amherst Acad for sophomore class; Williams 1819-21. Asst later prin Amherst Acad 1822-25; tutor Amh 1825-27; instructor in mathematics 1827-29; asst prof math and nat philos 1829-34 prof same 1834-76. Ed with revisions Olmsted's School Philosophy; Sch Astronomy; College Natural Philosophy (twice); College Astronomy (twice). d Amherst Sep 18 1876. See Tyler History of Amherst College pp 570-575. m Sep 8 1828 Sabra C dr Scotte Clark, Conway. ch Rebecca; Mary L; Martha P; Tirzah S: Sabra C (Portrait in possession of Amh).

Snell's biographical file in the Archives contains further basic biographical data.

Birth and death dates for other important family members include:

For a more detailed biography of Professor Snell, see Tyler's History of Amherst College During Its First Half Century, 1821-1871.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Snell Family Papers contain the papers and photographs of Ebenezer Strong Snell (Class of 1822) and his immediate family, including his wife, daughters, parents and sisters.

The Snell Family Papers are a valuable source for Snell family history and many aspects of Amherst College history. The bulk of this collection focuses upon Professor Ebenezer Snell's family and personal life, yet it also concerns Snell's career at Amherst as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. The Snell Family Papers cover the period from 1793 to about 1940. The bulk of the material spans the years 1835-1870. The history of Amherst College and also the teaching of science, including astronomy, meteorology and physics, are documented in the notebooks, College-related correspondence, architectural and mathematical drawings, College account records and scientific materials of Professor Snell. The family related materials provide insight into family life in Amherst in the mid-to-late 1800's and include family correspondence, diaries and journals, household account books and photographs.

The Snell Family Papers provide sources for research into both the professional and academic and the personal lives of the Snells.

See series 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12 for Amherst College related material.

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Search Terms

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Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into fourteen series:

• 1. Reverend Thomas Snell, Papers
• 2. Correspondence
• 3. Diaries, Journals and Biographical Notes
• 4. Trips
• 5. Lecture Notes
• 6. Notebooks
• 7. Account Books
• 8. Scrapbooks
• 9. Printed Material
• 10. Herbaria
• 11. Snell House
• 12. Family Photographs
• 13. Cased Images
• 14. Drawings

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Series 1: Reverend Thomas Snell, Papers

SERIES 1: REVEREND THOMAS SNELL, PAPERS, 1793-1898, includes handwritten and printed sermons, a biography, the program celebrating the centennial of his ordination, his funeral and memorial services and a picture of Appleton House. This material is arranged by type.

Series 2: Correspondence

SERIES 2: CORRESPONDENCE, 1819-75, includes letters from Ebenezer Strong Snell to his wife, daughters, parents, sisters and colleagues. Amherst College related correspondence includes a letter to the Trustees of Amherst College requesting a leave of absence to travel in Europe; a letter to the Trustees of Amherst College regarding his agreement to teach mathematics to the first Freshmen at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, and a similar letter to the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural College; recommendations and letters of introduction for students; letters about Amherst College or work related business, including letters ordering apparatus for scientific work; and letters to Snell from students. Also included is incoming and outgoing correspondence of Snell's wife (Sabra Cobb Clark), his daughters, and other family members. The material is arranged in three groups: letters from Ebenezer Strong Snell, letters to Ebenezer Strong Snell and letters to and from other family members.

Series 3: Diaries, Journals and Biographical Notes

SERIES 3: DIARIES, JOURNALS, AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES, 1837-1932, includes two notebooks of Ebenezer Strong Snell, containing autobiographical notes, journal entries, and reports to the Trustees of Amherst College. Materials also include a diary and obituaries of Sabra Snell (ESS daughter) and an account of the last two years of Martha Snell's life (ESS daughter) by her betrothed.

Material is arranged by person and type.

Sub-series A: Ebenezer Strong Snell

Sub-series B: Martha Snell

Sub-series C: Sabra Snell (daughter) Diary

Sub-series D: Unidentified Author

Series 4: Trips

SERIES 4: TRIPS, 1858 and 1866, includes journals kept by Ebenezer Strong Snell and his wife Sabra during their trip to Europe, Snell's passport and a contemporary map of London. Snell's European journal includes several letters to his daughters. The second volume of Snell's journal contains an account of a trip through the Midwest in 1866. Material is arranged by type. For other material related to the European trip see Series 2, 9 and 10.

Series 5: Lecture Notes

SERIES 5: LECTURE NOTES includes the notes for Snell's lectures given at Amherst College as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy and elsewhere. Most are undated, but fall between the 1830's and 1860's. Snell seems to have presented the lectures several times. The notes are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series 6: Notebooks

SERIES 6: NOTEBOOKS, c. 1835-70, includes science and mathematics notes, catalogues of apparatus, and architectural drawings. Material is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series 7: Account Books

SERIES 7: ACCOUNT BOOKS, 1825-96, includes Snell's personal and household accounts, and some Amherst Academy and Amherst College related accounts. The household accounts were continued by his family after Snell's death in September 1876. The accounts are arranged in two groups and organized chronologically.

Series 8: Scrapbooks

SERIES 8: SCRAPBOOKS 1820's-70's, includes autograph books, poetry, obituaries and news articles. The material is arranged by compiler and type.

Series 9: Printed Materials

SERIES 9: PRINTED MATERIAL, 1830-91, includes texts, articles, newsclippings, meteorological tables, programs and obituaries which were written by or about Ebenezer Snell, or collected by Snell or members of the family. Material is arranged by type and/or by author.

Series 10: Herbaria

SERIES 10: HERBARIA, 1830-58, contains pressed flowers and plant impressions made and collected by Ebenezer Snell and his wife Sabra. Material is arranged chronologically.

Series 11: Snell House

SERIES 11: SNELL HOUSE, 1838-1940, includes a "Housebook" prepared by Sabra Snell (ESS daughter), notes on Snell House, and one inscribed piece of wood from the house. Note that the "Housebook" also contains photographs of family members and one group photograph in front of Snell House. The material is arranged by type.

Series 12: Family Photographs

SERIES 12: FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS, c. 1860's-1930's, includes pictures of Ebenezer Snell; Sabra, his wife; their daughters; his sisters; their grandchildren. The photographs are arranged by person.

Series 13: Cased Images

SERIES 13: CASED IMAGES, c. 1840's-1860's, includes images of Ebenezer Strong Snell; Sabra, his wife; their daughters and her parents. The images are arranged by person.

Series 14: Drawings

SERIES 14: DRAWINGS, includes architectural and geometrical and scientific drawings, and drawings of scientific apparatus. Some of these seem to have been used to illustrate Snell's lectures. There is also one folder of astronomical calculations.

Finally, there is a painting done by Ebenezer Snell "from memory" in 1838 of the Snell family living room.

These materials are arranged by type.