Sneed Family Collection 1900-1970s
Collection
Identifier: MSS-0149
Scope and Contents
This collection is composed entirely of photographs (34 in number) which document the lives of two sisters in Houston from 1900 to the 1907s. The photographs capture important events, such as graduations and weddings, while tracing the careers of these black women as professional educators and club women who were active in LINKS, the Smart Set Club, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the Married Ladies Social, Art, and Charity Club.
Every photograph in this collection has a Photographic Identification Sheet which identifies and dates the contents of the photograph. The Identification Sheets have the same number as the photograph which they describe.
Every photograph in this collection has a Photographic Identification Sheet which identifies and dates the contents of the photograph. The Identification Sheets have the same number as the photograph which they describe.
Dates
- 1900 - 1980
Language of Materials
The collection is in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Sneed Family Photographs must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Martha Emma Masterson Sneed was born in Brazoria County in 1875. Mrs. Sneed and her husband, Glenn O. Sneed, moved to Houston from Galveston in 1909 because they were afraid of another hurricane like the one in 1900. Once here, Mrs. Sneed and her family settled at 1209 George Street (later changed to 129 W. Gray) in the Fourth Ward. She and the family were active in the Antioch Baptist Church. Mrs. Sneed worked as a seamstress. She was also active in the Married Ladies Social, Art and Charity Club.
The Sneeds had four children. Naomi Bessie Sneed was born in 1904 and died in 1921 at the age of 17 during a routine tonsillectomy in Houston. Ruth Sneed Jefferson was born in 1908. She went to school at Bishop College, University of Colorado, University of Denver, and majored in Literature. She taught at Jack Yates High School and Ryan Junior High School in Houston and retired in 1971. She was active in Links and the Smart Set clubs. Martha Francis Sneed David Robinson was born in 1909. She attended Bishop College and taught at Douglas Elementary from 1930-1949. Her first husband was Dr. John Davis, an influential physician who died in 1960. She then married Judson Robinson in 1960 who was influential in real estate and a community power broker. He died in 1986. Glenn O. Sneed Jr. was born in 1913 and died in 1979. He finished Booker T. Washington High School and fought in World War II. Later he did odd jobs and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he died after being married three times.
The Sneeds had four children. Naomi Bessie Sneed was born in 1904 and died in 1921 at the age of 17 during a routine tonsillectomy in Houston. Ruth Sneed Jefferson was born in 1908. She went to school at Bishop College, University of Colorado, University of Denver, and majored in Literature. She taught at Jack Yates High School and Ryan Junior High School in Houston and retired in 1971. She was active in Links and the Smart Set clubs. Martha Francis Sneed David Robinson was born in 1909. She attended Bishop College and taught at Douglas Elementary from 1930-1949. Her first husband was Dr. John Davis, an influential physician who died in 1960. She then married Judson Robinson in 1960 who was influential in real estate and a community power broker. He died in 1986. Glenn O. Sneed Jr. was born in 1913 and died in 1979. He finished Booker T. Washington High School and fought in World War II. Later he did odd jobs and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he died after being married three times.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)
Transfer Note
These records were formerly housed at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library as MSS 0293 Sneed Family Photographs and were transferred to the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library in February 2019.
Acquisition Information
Donated by: Ruth Sneed Jefferson and Matha Sneed Robinson in 1986.
Processing Information
Processed by: Howard Beeth in August, 1986; Updated by Sheena Wilson in 2019
- African American educators Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African Americans—Texas—Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fourth Ward (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Sneed, Martha Frances
- Sneed, Ruth Jefferson
- Title
- MSS 0149 Sneed Family Collection 1900-1970s
- Subtitle
- An Inventory of her Records at the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Gregory School Repository
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