GEORGE F. SNELL:

George Francis Snell, Jr., the son of Clara (ne_ Strauss) and George F. Snell, Sr., was born on June 9, 1920. He grew up in St. Paul (Minn.), graduating from St. Paul Mechanic Arts High School in 1937. His interest in writing and journalism was already apparent. During high school he was prose editor and editor-in-chief of Seedlings, the creative writing class' publication. He also contributed articles to the school newspaper, Cogwheel. In the fall of 1937 Snell attended Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.). While at Harvard his interest in writing gained momentum. He wrote essays, short stories, started a novella, and tried to publish his prose and journalistic articles. His letters to his parents are filled with news of his writing projects, hunting and fishing, and dating. During 1939-1940 Snell's strong interest in hunting, fishing, and sporting led him to design and construct an unusual form of crossbow. He wrote an article about this crossbow, which was published in Popular Science (April 1940). He graduated from Harvard in 1941 and returned to Minnesota.

On June 29, 1942 he joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to active duty on June 16, 1943. In November 1943 he was sent overseas, assigned to Group "A" Civil Censorship Division, Munich Censorship District, ETOUSA (European Theater of Operations, United States Army). He became a Censorship Officer in the OCS and was promoted to First Lieutenant. During his service he contracted and survived rheumatic fever and a few other minor illnesses.

While in the army he met Lieutenant Julia T. Graves, a nurse in the Army Nurse Corps, who was also stationed near Munich. They had a serious relationship, during which they had tense discussions of, and decided not to, get married, though they continued to correspond. She chose to re-enlist, and did not return to the United States when Snell was discharged. He continued to write, working on a children's story and articles about hunting and fishing.

In 1946, he was sent to the regional hospital at Fort George G. Meade (Maryland) for examination and disposition. He had been diagnosed with "valvular heart disease, aortic regurgitation, moderate," on June 24, 1946, on which date he was declared incapacitated for active duty. At Fort Meade he was examined by two medical officers as part of the proceedings for a medical discharge. They confirmed the diagnosis and report that the illness was probably caused by rheumatic fever, as Snell had no history of heart problems before his military service. Snell was granted an honorable discharge.

Snell then returned to Minnesota, gaining some success as a journalist. He published several articles in Sports Afield magazine, where he became an associate editor. He arranged to have his children's book illustrated by Frank B. Evans of Minneapolis. The children's book and Snell's novella were never published. Snell died of heart failure at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Snelling (Minnesota) on September 24, 1947.

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Essays, high school and college assignments, letters, manuscripts, photographs, and phonograph records. The collection records Snell's activities from high school through his death in 1947, focusing on his interest in writing and his passion for hunting and fishing. He wrote devotedly to his family, nearly once a week, from 1939 through 1947. While in Pittsburgh he recorded 15 "voice letters" at the USO. His letters describe his studies, travel, writing, hunting and fishing expeditions, and some of the social activities he participated in during college and army life. He consistently reported on his writing, outdoorsmanship, and finances, but little of his relationships or military duties.

The collection also contains the correspondence from his girl friend, Lt. Julia T. Graves, beginning in June 1946 and continuing until his death. He also kept correspondence with some friends abroad and in the service.

His essays, writing assignments, and other manuscripts document his development as a writer. These include high school and college assignments and other freelance writing projects he was trying to publish. Please note that all of the high school and many college assignments were typed on very acidic paper, and have been photocopied due to their crumbling condition. All newspaper clippings concerning Snell's activities have been photocopied as well. The collection includes a substantial number of photographs, most of which capture Snell engaged in hunting, fishing, or showing off "trophy" animals. There are a few photographs of friends, buildings, and landscapes.

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These records are divided into the following six sections:

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions:

The donor retains copyright in these materials.

Researchers using these materials may quote from them to the extent permitted under the "fair use" provision of U.S. copyright law, and may make single photocopies in lieu of note taking, except when prohibited by preservation concerns.

For further information concerning copyright status or permission to publish, please consult the reference staff.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. George F. Snell Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,242.

Processing Information:

Processed by: Lynn Leitte, December 1997

Catalog ID number: 09-00319898

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Crossbows.

Deer hunting.

Duck Shooting.

Hunting -- Anecdotes.

Hunting -- Equipment and supplies.

Military pensions.

Trout fishing.

World War, 1939-1945. Censorship.

Places:

Europe -- Description and travel -- 1945-1970.

United States. Army. Medical examinations.

Persons:

Arbouin, Beatrice.

Curtis, Dorothy Snell.

Goetzl, Eva.

Graves, Julia T.

Lufkin, Jim T.

Prendergast, Alice.

Snell, Clara.

Snell, George F.

Torrent, Tony (Antonio P.).

Vandevoorde, Van (Harold F.).

Organizations:

Harvard University. Students.

United States. Army. Army Nurse Corps. World War, 1939-1945.

United States. Army. European Command. Civil Censorship Division.

United States. Army. European Theater of Operations. World War, 1939-1945.

United States. Army. Officers.

Types of Documentation:

Essays.

Love letters.

Manuscripts for publication -- Juvenile literature -- Illustrations.

Novellas.

Phonograph records.

Photographs.

Yearbooks.

Occupations:

Authors.

Bowyers.

Outdoor writers.

Students.

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