Snell Family Papers 1793-1940
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Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
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Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Snell Family Papers
Creation of Snell Family Papers
Time of Creation of Snell Family Papers
Snell family
Biographical History for: Snell Family Papers
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: Thomas Snell - Nov. 21, 1774-May 4, 1862 - father of ESSTirzah Strong - Apr. 22, 1780-June 8, 1855 - mother of ESSSabra Cobb Clark Snell - 1807-1883 - wife of ESSRebecca Emerson Snell - Jul. 2, 1829-Dec. 5, 1841 - daughter of ESSMary Louisa Snell - Aug. 8,1831-1899 - daughter of ESSMartha Porter Snell - Oct. 30, 1835-1860 - daughter of ESSTirzah Strong Snell (Hall) - Nov. 10, 1839-1925 - daughter of ESSSabra Clark Snell - Jan. 31, 1845-Mar. 8, 1932 - daughter of ESS For a more detailed biography of Professor Snell, see Tyler's History of Amherst College During Its First Half Century, 1821-1871.
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.
Amherst College -- History -- Sources
lcsh
Amherst College -- Alumni and alumnae -- Sources
Amherst College -- Faculty -- Sources
College teachers -- Massachusetts -- Amherst -- Biography
College teachers -- Massachusetts -- Amherst -- Correspondence
Amherst (Mass.) -- History -- Sources
Amherst (Mass.) -- Social life and customs -- Sources
Snell, E. S. (Ebenezer Strong), 1801-1876
lcnaf
Snell, Sabra Cobb Clark, 1807-1883
Snell, Thomas, 1774-1862
Strong, Tirzah, 1780-1855
Snell, Rebecca Emerson, 1829-1841
Snell, Mary Louisa, 1831-1899
Snell, Martha Porter, 1835-1860
Snell, Tirzah Strong, 1839-1925
Snell, Sabra C. (Sabra Clark), 1845-1932
Amherst College. Class of 1822. Snell.
Amherst College
series
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.
Genealogy n.d.
Biography of Rev. Snell by Christopher Cushing from The Congregational Quarterly 1862 Oct
Ordination of Rev. Snell: Centennial Celebration Program 1898
Sermons: handwritten 1793-94, 1853
Collected sermons of Rev. Snell: printed pamphlets 1839-40
Sermons of Rev. Snell and funeral program 1811-54, 1862
Funeral services for Rev. Snell 7 May 1862
Appleton House: drawing by E.S. Snell 1864
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.
"Love knot" from ESS to Sabra (wife) 1828
ESS letters to Sabra (wife) 1862
ESS letters to daughters 1854-75
ESS letters to parents 1819-55
ESS letters to sisters 1825-73
ESS to Amherst College Trustees 1856 Aug, 1867 Oct
ESS to Prof. Baird 1850 Oct
ESS to Dr. Clark 1854 Jun, 1854 Aug
ESS to James C. Coffin: photocopy 1842 Nov 23
ESS recommendation for Francis P. Cotton (Class of 1845) 1845 Aug 12
ESS to George R. Cutting (Class of 1871, re organization of Literary Societies) 1871 May 16, 17
ESS to Dr. Earle 1866 Jul 20
ESS to Mr. Emerson 1866 Feb 9
ESS to Dr. Hitchcock 1854 Aug 15
ESS to Mr. Howland 1851 Dec 31
ESS to the Massachusetts Agricultural College Trustees (copy) 1867 Aug
ESS to C.W. Shepard (Class of 1827) 1832 Aug 9
ESS to Asa D. Smith, President of Dartmouth (copy) 1865 Nov 30
ESS to Strong Snell 1837 Jun 15
ESS to Prof. W.S. Tyler 1856 Jul 11
ESS to Mr. Wightman 1850 Mar 8
To ESS from Amherst College students, Class of 1851, 1853, 1858. Reply to 1853. 1851, 1853, 1858
To ESS from James Green with appended reply 1838 Dec 17
To ESS from Samuel M. Worcester 1850 Aug 29
Sabra Snell (wife): incoming and outgoing correspondence; membership certificate in Hampshire Agricultural Society 1836-58
Rebecca Snell (daughter) letter to grandparents 1836 Feb 26
Sabra Snell (daughter): letter from Jacob Abbott 1867 Sep 29
Sarah Snell (sister) to mother 1824 Oct 8
Strong Snell (brother) to parents and sisters 1826-68
Thomas Snell: fragment on behalf of Mr. Whiting n.d.
To Louisa C. Strong from Charles L. Strong 1829 Sep 19
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.
subseries
Sub-series A: Ebenezer Strong Snell
Autobiographical notes, journal entries, letters and Reports to Trustees, and household and College accounts (in one notebook) 1860-76, 1830-58
Journal 1827
Autobiography and Reports to Trustees (in one notebook) c. 1870, 1840-56
Transcripts of autobiography and transcripts of Reports to Trustees [1875-76]
Sub-series B: Martha Snell
"An account of the last two years of Martha Snell's Life," by Henry S. Kelsey (Class of 1855) her betrothed [1860]
Texts given to Martha Snell for her night meditation [1840s-50s ?]
Sub-series C: Sabra Snell (daughter) Diary
Diary 1856 Apr-1858 Oct
Obituaries 1932
Sub-series D: Unidentified Author
To My Mother's Memory", "The Lyre n.d.
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.
E.S. Snell's journal of tour of Europe (2 vols.) and the Midwest USA 1858, 1866
Sabra Snell (wife) journal of tour of Europe 1858 May 31-Aug 3
Passport: E.S. Snell 1858
Whitbread's New Plan of London 1858
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.
Architecture n.d.
Evolution n.d.
Lightning and Lightning Rods 1862, 1868
Magnetism/Electricity n.d.
Mechanics I n.d.
Mechanics II n.d.
Meteors n.d.
Meteorology n.d.
Natural Philosophy synopsis 1843 Nov
Natural Philosophy 1854-1855
Optics I n.d.
Optics II n.d.
Planetary Disturbances: delivered at the Smithsonian Institution 1855 Dec 19
Pneumatics [post 1851]
Sound n.d.
Telegraphy 1867, 1868
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.
Astronomy (Practical): Observations and Calculations 1835-54
Calendar 1861-1900
Differential and Integral Calculus n.d.
Natural Philosophy Algebra 1870
Physics 1840
Philosophical apparatus at Amherst College: catalogue 1852
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.
Household accounts; also Amherst Academy 1825-35
Household accounts 1835-74
Household accounts 1875-96
Accounts with Amherst College and meteorological records and description of trip to museum in Boston (not by ESS) 1859-70, 1835-37, n.d.
Accounts with Amherst College and others 1835-78
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.
Autograph book given to ESS by the Class of 1858 1858
Poetry, obituaries and miscellaneous news articles [1820's-70's]
Funeral poetry (handwritten) 1851
Record of the Edgeworth Library 1826
Autograph book of Mary L. Snell (ESS daughter) 1840's-50's
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.
"Differential Calculus," by ESS 1851
"Introduction to Astronomy," ESS revision 1890
"Introduction to Natural Philosophy," ESS revision 1891
"On Planetary Disturbances." Lecture delivered at the Smithsonian Institution by ESS 1855 Dec 19
"On the Vibrations of the Fall over the Dam at Holyoke, Mass.," by ESS c. 1857 Aug 13
"Vibrations in the Waterfall at Holyoke, Mass.," by ESS [c. 1859]
"Discussion of the Barometric Observaions of Prof. E.S. Snell of Amherst College," by F. H. Loud 1881
"Coffin's Astronomical Tables" 1842
"The Gyroscope, with Experiments and Explanations" 1857
Meteorological tables and articles, obituaries, travel correspondence, articles written by ESS in the Express 1830's-50's, [c. 1840s-71, 1858]
Miscellaneous newsclippings and death announcements [1850's-80's]
Songs at the reception of Prof. Snell by the students of Amherst College 1858
Commemorative program after the death of ESS 1877
Pennell, Christopher: article and letter 1890, [1897?]
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.
Impressions of vegetable leaves 1830
Herbarium from European trip 1858
Pages from herbarium from European trip 1858
Sabra Snell Herbarium from European trip ("Herbarium by mother on her European trip) [1858]
Pressed flowers n.d.
Watercolors of flowers n.d.
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.
"Housebook," by Sabra Snell (ESS daughter) for Elliot Snell Hall 1909-10
Random notes taken from a "Housebook" by Sabra Snell n.d.
Snell House notes: by Prof. Sam Williams n.d.
Photographs of Snell House [c. 1890's-1940's]
Sampler made by Rebecca Snell 1838
Piece of wood used by ESS in workshop [1842]
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.
Ebenezer Strong Snell n.d.
Ebenezer Strong Snell, Class album 1857
Ebenezer Strong Snell, Class album 1858
Ebenezer Strong Snell, Class album 1860
Ebenezer Strong Snell, Class album 1861
Engraving of Ebenezer Strong Snell n.d.
Sabra Clark Snell (wife) n.d.
Daughters of E.S. Snell [1920's?], n.d.
Tirzah Snell Hall and family [1880's-90's?]
Tirzah H. Hall (daughter of Tirzah Snell Hall and granddaughter of ESS) n.d.
Martha Snell Hall Cowles, (granddaughter of ESS) [1880's?], 1903
Elliott Snell Hall (Class of 1896, grandson of ESS) 1887, [1890's?]
Thomas Snell (brother of ESS) n.d.
Tirzah Snell Emerson, Martha Snell Porter (sisters of ESS) n.d.
Unidentified man [Titus?] [1860-65?]
Photo of ESS painting "from memory" of the living room of his old home (original in Map Case 1, Drawer 12) 1838
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.
Rev. Dr. Thomas Snell (ESS father) n.d., [c. 1852-62?]
Tirzah Strong Snell (Mrs. Thomas Snell, ESS mother) [c. 1845- 55?]
Ebenezer Strong Snell [1840's?]
Ebenezer Strong Snell [1840's?], [1850's], [post 1854], [1858?], [1860's]
Sabra Cobb Clark Snell (ESS wife) [1840's?], [post 1854], [1860's?]
Martha Porter Snell (ESS daughter) [1840's?], [ca. 1850]
Martha Porter Snell (ESS daughter) [c. 1850?], [post 1854]
Mary Louisa Snell (ESS daughter) [1850's-60's?]
Sabra Clark Snell (ESS daughter) [c. 1850-55?]
Martha and Tirzah Snell (Hall) [c. 1850?]
Tirzah Strong Snell (Hall), (ESS daughter) [ca. 1840-45?], [ca. 1855]
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.
Geometrical drawings n.d.
Architectural drawings n.d.
Astronomical calculations 1830-44
Astronomical drawings n.d.
Drawing of apparatus n.d.
Wash: Half moon (incomplete) [by ESS?] n.d.
Wash: waterfall [by ESS?] n.d.
Mosques of Achmet and Alexandria n.d.
Cathedral n.d.
Cathedral interior n.d.
Cathedral window and ceiling n.d.
Cathedral facade n.d.
Moorish and Gothic arches n.d.
Floor plan of a temple n.d.
Persian mullah n.d.
Parts of a cathedral n.d.
Baalbec Aqueduct n.d.
Pantheon n.d.
Chinese Pagoda n.d.
Rochester Cathedral n.d.
Norwich Cathedral (interior) n.d.
Maison Ciaree n.d.
Colliseum: Column of Trajan n.d.
Temple of Apollinopolis n.d.
Parthenon: Caryatid Porch n.d.
Petersborough Cathedral n.d.
Egyptian Propyloeum: Apollinopolis-Luxor n.d.
Greek Columns n.d.
Ground plans: St. Paul's, St. Peter's n.d.
Temple of Juno: Fortuna virilis n.d.
Unidentified Pagan Temple n.d.
Arch of Constantine n.d.
Mosque of Payass n.d.
Greek Temples - Erectheum and Theseum n.d.
Map of Olympia n.d.