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Amherst College Weather Station Records

 Collection
Identifier: MA.00003

Scope and Contents

The Amherst College Weather Records contain the climatological data recorded by Professor Ebenezer Strong Snell (Class of 1822) and his daughter Sabra Snell from 1835 to 1902; observations recorded by the Hatch Experimental Station at the Massachusetts Agricultural College from 1891 to 1924; and by Dr. Philip Ives (Class of 1932) from 1948 to date.

Professor Snell's original ledgers contain his weather observations noted at least twice daily in the morning and the afternoon. These are among the earliest on record for Massachusetts. After Snell's death in 1876, the work was carried on by his daughter until 1902. The observations from the Massachusetts Agricultural College cover from 1891 to 1924. In October 1948, Dr. Philip Ives began to collect climatological data at the college weather station. This continues to date.

Dates

  • Creation: 1835-1924
  • Creation: 1948-1998

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There is no restriction on access to the Amherst College Weather Station Records for research use. Particularly fragile items are restricted for preservation purposes.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for permission to publish material from the Amherst College Weather Station Records for research use should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Extent

3 Linear feet (1 archives box, 1 half archives box, 7 volumes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Climatological data recorded by Professor Ebenezer Strong Snell (Class of 1822) and his daughter Sabra Snell from 1835 to 1902; observations recorded by the Hatch Experimental Station at the Massachusetts Agricultural College from 1891 to 1924; and by Dr. Philip Ives (Class of 1932) from 1948 to date.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into four series:

  1. Series 1: Meteorological Journals
  2. Series 2: Hatch Experiment Station Meteorological Observations
  3. Series 3: Publications, Compilations, and Summaries
  4. Series 4: Daily Weather Data

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The meteorological journals kept by Professor Snell seem to have been given to the College by Members of the Snell family. In the fall of 1989, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst transferred their weather observations from 1891 to 1924 to the Amherst College Archives. Dr. Ives deposits his climatological data annually.

Related Materials

"Preface to the Amherst, Massachusetts, Weather Records," by Philip T. Ives, in Series 3

Physical Description

1 archives box, 1 half archives box, 7 volumes (3 linear feet)

Status
Completed
Author
Daria D'Arienzo
Date
1985; 2002
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Sponsor
Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Repository Details

Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299