Eyewitness account of the Snow Riot

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Eyewitness account of the Snow Riot must be obtained from Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.

Preferred citation:

Eyewitness account of the Snow Riot, C0291, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
0.1 linear feet (one letter)
Creator:
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center.
Abstract:
1835 letter describing the Snow Riot in Washington, D.C.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Eyewitness account of the Snow Riot, C0291, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Letter, probably from Mary Elizabeth Fendall (according to dealer information accompanying the letter), to a woman named Else. The letter describes the 1835 Snow Riot, a racially motivated riot in Washington, D.C. in which young white men attacked and destroyed property belonging to Beverly Snow and other African Americans in the city.

Biographical / historical:

According to a 2005 Washington Post article by Jefferson Morley, the Snow Riot of August 1835 began with a young African American enslaved man named Arthur Bowen drunkenly carrying an axe into his mistress's bedroom. The incident inflamed white sentiments, particularly among Irish laborers who already resented competition from African Americans for manual jobs. The laborers formed a mob, attempted to lynch Bowen, and attacked African American businesses and institutions, including a restaurant owned by Beverly Snow, by whose name the riot became known (Morely, 'The Snow Riot').

Acquisition information:
Purchased by Special Collections Research Center circa 2005.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Elizabeth Beckman in June 2016. EAD markup completed by Elizabeth Beckman in June 2016. Finding Aid updated by Amanda Brent in January 2019.

Arrangement:

Letter is boxed by itself.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Race riots--Washington (D.C.)