Maryland State Archives

This collection contains documentation of C. Evelyn Tretbar Snowden’s family life and genealogy as well as her community activities. Included are materials related to her volunteer efforts and activism to improve the lives of those in Anne Arundel County, her contributions to the Maryland Federation of Women’s Club and its various chapters, and dedication to the Parole Community Day Care Center Project, Inc. In addition, there is documentation about the career and activities of her first husband, William J. Tretbar, with the General Elevator Company, Inc. and membership in the United States Power Squadrons. There are also photographs of her second husband, Rev. Charles D. Snowden. The collection was donated by a family friend, V. Joyce Phelps, II.

Arrangement

MSA-SC-6371-1: Family Papers

•  Documents, newspaper articles and a couple of books related to Evelyn Tretbar Snowden’s personal life and family.

MSA-SC-6371-2: Women’s Club and Community Work

• Documents, newspaper articles, letters, and pamphlets related to Evelyn Tretbar Snowden’s work with several of Maryland Women’s Clubs, her work with the Parole Community Day Center Project, Inc., and other volunteer and community work.

MSA-SC-6371-3: Writings

• Typed documents of writings, short stories and informational pieces Evelyn Tretbar Snowden wrote for various publications.

MSA-SC-6371-4: William J. Tretbar

• Documents, newspaper articles, and pamphlets related to William J. Tretbar’s career at General Elevator Company, Inc. and as a member of the United State Power Squadrons. Also includes records illustrating William and Evelyn’s relationship such as love letters and wedding invitation as well as documents regarding William’s funeral and an appraisal list of their Easton, MD house.

MSA-SC-6371-5: Visual Media

• Black and white and colored photographs of various people including Evelyn, William, his mother, Lillian, Rev. Charles Snowden, and of various places and objects. A VHS and thumb drive with video of Evelyn and Charles Snowden's wedding in 1989.

MSA-SC-6371-6: Miscellaneous

• Various documents including newspaper articles, blank Don Swann correspondence cards, a carved wooden bookmark, and pamphlets from New York’s World Fair, 1939.

Brief Biographical Note

Constance Evelyn Tretbar Snowden (nee Makin) was born in New York City, NY to George Oscar Makin and Hannah Margaret Makin (nee McAllister) on April 27, 1908 and died on February 24, 1992 and is buried in Easton, MD. She married her first husband, William Joseph Tretbar (1906-1989), in 1929 and her second husband, Rev. Charles Durkee Snowden (1908-1996), in 1989.

There are several documents and names related to various members of her family in the collection including:

• H. Margaret Makin (nee McAllister) later divorces George O. Makin and marries Francis Augustine Strain and became known as Mrs. Francis A. Strain or Hannah Margaret Strain
• George O. Makin, Jr. (1910-1988) -Evelyn's brother
• Henry Walter Makin (1912-1918) - Evelyn's brother named after paternal grandfather
• Anna Makin - Evelyn’s paternal cousin
• Vivienne Makin - Evelyn’s cousin
• Crossland is the maiden name of Evelyn’s paternal grandmother, Sarah Wyld Crossland
• Lillian May Tretbar (nee Hulsemann) - William J. Tretbar’s mother
• Bernhard Hulsemann - William’s maternal relative