Doing Historical Research at Montpelier Mansion

Archives Content Summary

Montpelier’s mission states that we are a “…museum dedicated to preserving and interpreting the mansion and its grounds from 1783 to the 1960’s with special emphasis on the Snowden Family occupation (1783-1831).” Much of the archival collections focus on materials of interest to genealogist of not only the direct Montpelier branch of the Snowden family, but also the extended family such as the Warfields, Contees and Reese/Johnson Lines. Within these collections there is wealth of information about the family and their activities through documents such as correspondence, account books, scrapbooks, photographs, and land record materials. We also have architectural and ground drawings of Montpelier showing the architectural evolution of the structure itself as well as some of the changes regarding land development surrounding the mansion. It is important to note that new materials are being acquired all the time and will be added to the web page once they have been fully processed and a finding aid created.

Research Questions and Access Procedures

All questions about the archival collections held by Montpelier and access to those collections should be directed to either the main office at 301-377-7817 or the Collections Manager at 301-377-7836. Please note that all access to the collections is by appointment only. Please be prepared to explain the nature of your research and which of the collections are of interest to you.

Published Finding Aids

Montpelier Building and Grounds Drawings Collection
Acc. No. 2009.004.001
This collection is a classic artificial collection composed of drawings generated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission or by contractors hired for the purpose of building renovations, restoration projects and garden and ground design projects including constructions plans for roads and parking lots and planting plans for the grounds and specialty gardens.
Download the Finding Aid

The Gordon Kirwan Collection
Acc. No. 2000.002.01
This collection consists of thirty-six letters dating from 1821 to 1835 written predominately by Anna Marie Snowden Hopkins (1794-1864) to her youngest sister Rachel P. Snowden Tyson (1809-1889).
Download the Finding Aid.

The Helen Warfield Burgess Bebermeyer Seymour Archival Collection
Acc. No. 2003.001.01
This collection contains correspondence related directly to the Snowden’s of Montpelier dating from the 1830s through the 1910s. There are also photographs, scrapbooks and books found in this collection.
Download the Finding Aid.

The Gladys B. Brigham Document Collection
Acc. No. 2003.002.
This collection contains a variety of family materials related directly the Snowden’s of Montpelier. Items found in the collection include correspondence, personal artifacts, account books, and land plats and deeds.
Download the Finding Aid.

Acc. No. 2004.002.01
This collection contains predominately land plats, indenture agreements and land deeds some of which relate directly to the Snowden’s of Montpelier but not all. Other materials include a record of Thomas J. Snowden’s time at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in the 1830s as well as materials related to the Mansion dating from the early twentieth century.

Download the Finding Aid.

The Joseph S. Snowden, Pennsylvania Document Collection
Acc. No. 2005.001.01
This collection contains five documents that related to a mortgage history search that occurred in 1856 due to a land dispute related to Joseph S. Snowden of Pennsylvania. It is uncertain if Joseph S. Snowden is related to the Snowden’s of Montpelier.
Download the Finding Aid.

The Cameron Robinson, Snowden Family Document Collection
Acc. No. 2008.006.01

Download the Finding Aid .

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The collection consists of seven items [a family bible once owned by Dr. DeWilton Snowden (1818-1879) and marriage, baptismal and confirmation records) relating to the branch of the Snowden family descendant from Mary Thomas Snowden the daughter of Dr.