Margery Adams Collection

Title

Margery Adams Collection

Subject

Adams, Margery, 1897-1983
Adams, Laura Lavinia Snyder, 1861-1941
Adams, James L., Sr., 1848-1931
Snyder, Mary Caroline, 1851-1941

Description

Margery Adams was a lifelong Springfield, Illinois, resident who donated her family home and property to the Illinois Audubon Society which now serves as the Margery Adams Wildlife Sanctuary. Adams was the great-granddaughter of James Adams, Springfield's first attorney.

Margery Adams's father, James L. Adams, worked as the railroads in California and Illinois including serving as chief clerk for the Illinois Central Railroad during the 1870s through 1887. After leaving the railroad, he worked as a fruit farmer and truck gardener. He fathered James L. Adams, Jr. and Roe Reed Adams with his first wife, Florence Reed, and John Quincy and Margery with his second wife, Laura Snyder. Laura's sister, Mary C. Snyder, lived with the Adams family later in her life and worked as a newspaper puzzle designer.

The finding aid for the Adams-Snyder Family Papers, 1813-1989 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum may be found at http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/12.

Photographs in this collection include family portraits and images of family members on the Adams family property.

Collection Items

Mary Caroline Snyder
Mary Caroline Snyder, the daughter of Enoch Snyder and Charity Minkler Snyder, poses for a portrait wearing a dark dress.

John Quincy Adams and Margery Adams
Brother and sister, John Quincy Adams and Margery Adams, pose for a portrait.

Enoch Snyder
Enoch Snyder sits for a portrait wearing a suit and tie. On verso: "Father of Mary Caroline Snyder and Laura Lavinia Snyder (Mrs. James L. Adams, Sr.) (Margery Adams' Maternal Grandfather)."

Laura Lavinia Snyder Adams
Laura Lavinia Snyder Adams sits for a portrait wearing a bow at the collar of her dress. On verso: "Mrs. James L. Adams, Sr."

Margery Adams
Margery Adams smiles for a portrait.

Margery Adams with Scroll
Margery Adams sits in a chair holding a scroll.

Margery Adams and May
Margery Adams poses for a photo with her bull, May.

Margery Adams in Pasture
Margery Adams poses for a photo wearing coveralls and a hat.

Palm Sunday
Margery Adams stands at the entrance to a building holding a potted Easter Lily on Palm Sunday.

Halloween Witch
An unidentified woman wears her witch costume for Halloween while holding a broomstick and a cat in her lap.

Margery Adams at New Salem
Margery Adams stands next to a horse-drawn wagon during a visit to New Salem.

S. S. Class
Seven women, including Margery Adams (third from left), pose for a group photo wearing dresses and hats. The writing at the bottom of the photo identifying the women reads, "Daisy, Elma, M. A., Annie, B. E. Cressey, Margaret, Rose, [Megan]."

Adams Home
Ivy covers a portion of the Adams family home in Springfield.

James L. Adams, Laura Lavinia Adams, Mary Caroline Snyder, and Margery Adams
Margery Adams (far right) poses for a photograph with her parents, James and Laura Adams (far left and left center) and her aunt, Mary Snyder (right center).

Clemenceau, Snowdrift, and Snowball
The Adams family cats, Clemenceau, Snowdrift, and Snowball, sit outside taking in the sunlight.

Pear Blossom Time
A pear blossom tree stands in full bloom on the Adams property.

Laura and Mary
Sisters Mary Snyder and Laura Adams stand on a porch for a photograph.

Pink Kimono
Margery Adams poses in a pink kimono and holds a fan given to her by her brother, Roe R. Adams.On verso: "Pink kimono from Roe. Now Martha has kimono."

Roe R. Adams
Roe R. Adams stands at attention wearing his Navy uniform.

James L. Adams, Jr.
James L. Adams, Jr. stands outside holding his hat for a portrait.

James L. Adams, Sr.
James L. Adams, Sr. sits outside in a rocking chair for a portrait.
View all 21 items

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