Francis H. Snow
Encyclopedia
Francis Huntington Snow (June 29, 1840–September 21, 1908) was an American
professor and chancellor of the University of Kansas
(KU), and he became prominent through the discovery of a fungus
fatal to chinch bug
s and its propagation and distribution. Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
, he was the son of Benjamin and Mary B. (Boutelle) Snow, and one of his paternal ancestors, Richard Warren
, was a member of the Mayflower
company. He was married on June 8, 1868, to Jane Appleton Aiken.
Snow attended the Fitchburg high school in preparation for Williams College
, where he graduated in 1862, standing first in his class. After teaching one year as principal of the Fitchburg high school he entered the Andover Theological Seminary, completing its course of study in 1866. This same year he received his master's degree from Williams. He would later receive a Ph.D. from Williams in 1881, and the degree of LL.D. from Princeton University
in 1890. He was a member of the college fraternity Delta Upsilon
, and of the honorary societies Sigma Xi
and Phi Beta Kappa at KU.
After leaving Andover Seminary he preached for a while, although not regularly installed as pastor. "He served two seasons with the Christian commission at the front of the Union army, being present at Lee's surrender." In 1866 he was elected to the first faculty of the University of Kansas as professor of mathematics and natural sciences. During the first year he spent in Lawrence, Kansas
, he preached almost every Sunday in nearby pulpits.
In 1870 Snow became professor of natural history, and during the next decade he organized the collecting expeditions which resulted in the natural history museum at the university. Snow was the curator of all the natural history collections until 1891, when he hired his former student, Lewis Lindsay Dyche, to curate the zoological collections; the entomological and botanical collections were curated by Snow. Despite an early affinity for botany, Snow's primary research was in entomology. This is because shortly after Snow came to Kansas, James A. Carruth was appointed as state botanist, and he decided not to duplicate Carruth’s work. The R.L. McGregor Herbarium at KU houses over 500 of Snow's botanical specimens, but many of his early specimens were sent to Carruth’s herbarium and eventually lost. In the entomological collection there are more than 200 species of insects discovered by him.
Snow started the first scientific publication of the university, The Observer of Nature, and for some years he was editor of the scientific journal Psyche. He made frequent contributions to the university bulletins and reports and to the Kansas Academy of Science
, of which he was a founder and president. Throughout his connection with the university he made and published systematic meteorological reports.
In 1886 the legislature appropriated $50,000 for the erection of a new building designed by John G. Haskell which was named Snow Hall of Natural History in his honor. Seriously deteriorated by 1915, the original limestone building was demolished in 1934, and salvaged stone was used on the university's Military Science Building. The new Snow Hall was opened in 1930. In 1890 the university received a bequest from his uncle, William B. Spooner, with which Spooner library and the chancellor's residence were erected. Snow was the fifth chancellor of the university from 1890 until 1901.
Snow died at Delafield, Wisconsin
on September 21, 1908. He was survived by his wife and four of his five children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professor and chancellor of the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
(KU), and he became prominent through the discovery of a fungus
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
fatal to chinch bug
Chinch Bug
The term chinch bug can refer to a few different North American insects:*Blissus insularis – the southern chinch bug*Blissus leucopterus – the true chinch bug*Nysius raphanus – the false chinch bug...
s and its propagation and distribution. Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
, he was the son of Benjamin and Mary B. (Boutelle) Snow, and one of his paternal ancestors, Richard Warren
Richard Warren
Richard Warren was a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620. He settled in Plymouth Colony and was among ten passengers of the Mayflower landing party with Myles Standish at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620...
, was a member of the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
company. He was married on June 8, 1868, to Jane Appleton Aiken.
Snow attended the Fitchburg high school in preparation for Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, where he graduated in 1862, standing first in his class. After teaching one year as principal of the Fitchburg high school he entered the Andover Theological Seminary, completing its course of study in 1866. This same year he received his master's degree from Williams. He would later receive a Ph.D. from Williams in 1881, and the degree of LL.D. from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1890. He was a member of the college fraternity Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
, and of the honorary societies Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
and Phi Beta Kappa at KU.
After leaving Andover Seminary he preached for a while, although not regularly installed as pastor. "He served two seasons with the Christian commission at the front of the Union army, being present at Lee's surrender." In 1866 he was elected to the first faculty of the University of Kansas as professor of mathematics and natural sciences. During the first year he spent in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, he preached almost every Sunday in nearby pulpits.
In 1870 Snow became professor of natural history, and during the next decade he organized the collecting expeditions which resulted in the natural history museum at the university. Snow was the curator of all the natural history collections until 1891, when he hired his former student, Lewis Lindsay Dyche, to curate the zoological collections; the entomological and botanical collections were curated by Snow. Despite an early affinity for botany, Snow's primary research was in entomology. This is because shortly after Snow came to Kansas, James A. Carruth was appointed as state botanist, and he decided not to duplicate Carruth’s work. The R.L. McGregor Herbarium at KU houses over 500 of Snow's botanical specimens, but many of his early specimens were sent to Carruth’s herbarium and eventually lost. In the entomological collection there are more than 200 species of insects discovered by him.
Snow started the first scientific publication of the university, The Observer of Nature, and for some years he was editor of the scientific journal Psyche. He made frequent contributions to the university bulletins and reports and to the Kansas Academy of Science
Kansas Academy of Science
The Kansas Academy of Science is a public organization for the promotion and promulgation of scientific research in the state of Kansas, United States. It was created as the Kansas Natural History Society at a meeting at Lincoln College in Topeka...
, of which he was a founder and president. Throughout his connection with the university he made and published systematic meteorological reports.
In 1886 the legislature appropriated $50,000 for the erection of a new building designed by John G. Haskell which was named Snow Hall of Natural History in his honor. Seriously deteriorated by 1915, the original limestone building was demolished in 1934, and salvaged stone was used on the university's Military Science Building. The new Snow Hall was opened in 1930. In 1890 the university received a bequest from his uncle, William B. Spooner, with which Spooner library and the chancellor's residence were erected. Snow was the fifth chancellor of the university from 1890 until 1901.
Snow died at Delafield, Wisconsin
Delafield, Wisconsin
Delafield is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, along the Bark River, and a suburb of Milwaukee. The population was 6,472 at the 2000 census....
on September 21, 1908. He was survived by his wife and four of his five children.