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Ada Snell was born to a [[middle class]] [[Southern Baptist]] couple, Marshall H. Carver and the former Ada W. Jack. Her maternal grandfather, Colonel William H. Jack of Natchitoches, kept pheasants, eagles, and peacocks.<ref>Earlene Mendenhall Lyle, ''The Minden Cemetery: A Peaceful Resting Place,'' Self-published, June 2004, p. 38.</ref> Ada graduated from Judson College in Marion, [[Alabama]],<ref>Charles Champlin, "A Stamp of Approval for a Friend," ''[[Los Angeles Times]],'' July 9, 1987</ref> the ''[[alma mater]]'' of another Natchitoches-area resident, the naturalist [[Caroline Dormon]].

Ada Snell was born to a [[middle class]] [[Southern Baptist]] couple, Marshall H. Carver and the former Ada W. Jack. Her maternal grandfather, Colonel William H. Jack of Natchitoches, kept pheasants, eagles, and peacocks.<ref>Earlene Mendenhall Lyle, ''The Minden Cemetery: A Peaceful Resting Place,'' Self-published, June 2004, p. 38.</ref> Ada graduated from Judson College in Marion, [[Alabama]],<ref>Charles Champlin, "A Stamp of Approval for a Friend," ''[[Los Angeles Times]],'' July 9, 1987</ref> the ''[[alma mater]]'' of another Natchitoches-area resident, the naturalist [[Caroline Dormon]].

On February 25, 1918, Ada married John Barnard Snell (1884-1959) in [[Shreveport]], Louisiana, while he was on furlough from the [[United States Army]] during [[World War I]]. John Snell was from [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. From 1913 to 1917, Snell had been the principal of the newly established [[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]].  On his return to Minden after military service, he operated his own [[cotton]] gin.<ref>Obituary of John Barnard Snell, ''Minden Herald'', March 23, 1959</ref>

On February 25, 1918, Ada married John Barnard Snell (1884-1959) in [[Shreveport]], Louisiana, while he was on furlough from the [[United States Army]] during [[World War I]]. John Snell was from [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. From 1913 to 1917, Snell had been the principal of the newly established [[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]].  On his return to Minden after military service, he operated his own [[cotton]] gin.<ref>Obituary of John Barnard Snell, ''Minden Herald,'' March 23, 1959.</ref>

==Literary works==

==Literary works==

Ada Snell's short stories reflect a Louisiana setting, particularly the multicultural Cane River country of her native [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches Parish]].<ref name=novelg>{{cite web|url=http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/aww_01/aww_01_00186.html|title=Carver, Ada Jack|publisher=novelguide.com|accessdate=September 5, 2009}}</ref> Snell's works began about 1917 and peaked in the middle 1920s. "The Joyous Coast" was published in ''Southern Women's Magazine'' in 1917. In 1925, Snell wrote the acclaimed "Redbone", carried in ''Southern Stories'' by A. Turner. In 1926, she published "The Raspberry Dress" in ''The Century'' [[magazine]], a story of a complex relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter. Carver's best stories feature  older women. She had a [[France|French]] grandmother who encouraged her intellectual growth and literary imagination.<ref name=novelg/>

Ada Snell's short stories reflect a Louisiana setting, particularly the multicultural Cane River country of her native [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches Parish]].<ref name=novelg>{{cite web|url=http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/aww_01/aww_01_00186.html|title=Carver, Ada Jack|publisher=novelguide.com|accessdate=September 5, 2009}}</ref> Snell's works began about 1917 and peaked in the middle 1920s. "The Joyous Coast" was published in ''Southern Women's Magazine'' in 1917. In 1925, Snell wrote the acclaimed "Redbone", carried in ''Southern Stories'' by A. Turner. In 1926, she published "The Raspberry Dress" in ''The Century'' [[magazine]], a story of a complex relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter. Carver's best stories feature  older women. She had a [[France|French]] grandmother who encouraged her intellectual growth and literary imagination.<ref name=novelg/>

Three other works in 1926, "Treeshy," "The Old One," and "Maudie" were published by ''Harper's Magazine''. Also in 1926, she wrote "The Cajun", a bigoted play portraying the Cajun people. Caroline Dormon wrote a tribute to Snell in the ''The Minden Signal Tribune,'' noting that despite her relative inexperience as an author Snell had won prizes over older, established writers.<ref>Caroline Dormon, "Ada Jack Carver - Webster parish Writers - Noted as New Voice from the Old South," ''Minden Signal Tribune'' and ''Springhill Journal,'' November 6, 1926.</ref> In 1927, Snell penned "Bagatelle." After 1928, her work slowed considerably. A children's play, "The Clock Strikes Tomorrow," was written and produced in 1935. Another short story, "For Suellen with Love," appeared in a college review in 1949. ''The Collected Works of Ada Jack Carver'' appeared posthumously in 1980.<ref name=novelg/>

Three other works in 1926, "Treeshy," "The Old One," and "Maudie" were published by ''Harper's Magazine''. Also in 1926, she wrote "The Cajun", a bigoted play portraying the Cajun people. Caroline Dormon wrote a tribute to Snell in the ''The Minden Signal Tribune,'' noting that despite her relative inexperience as an author Snell had won prizes over older, established writers.<ref>Caroline Dormon, "Ada Jack Carver - Webster parish Writers - Noted as New Voice from the Old South," ''Minden Signal Tribune'' and ''Springhill Journal,'' November 6, 1926.</ref> In 1927, Snell penned "Bagatelle." After 1928, her work slowed considerably. A children's play, "The Clock Strikes Tomorrow," was written and produced in 1935. Another short story, "For Suellen with Love," appeared in a college review in 1949. ''The Collected Works of Ada Jack Carver'' appeared posthumously in 1980.<ref name=novelg/>

Ada Snell was an occasional guest at Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches, owned by Carmelite "Cammie" Garrett Henry (1871-1948). There Snell met the authors Francois Mignon and Lyle Saxon, a native of [[Washington|Washington State]] who wrote extensively on the culture of [[New Orleans]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Snell&GSfn=Ada&GSby=1890&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1972&GSdyrel=in&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=29288891&|title=Findagrave.com: Ada Jack Carver Snell|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=September 4, 2009}}</ref>

Ada Snell was an occasional guest at Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches, owned by Carmelite "Cammie" Garrett Henry (1871-1948). There Snell met the authors Francois Mignon and Lyle Saxo (1891-1946), a native of [[Washington|Washington State]] who wrote extensively on the culture of [[New Orleans]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Snell&GSfn=Ada&GSby=1890&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1972&GSdyrel=in&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=29288891&|title=Findagrave.com: Ada Jack Carver Snell|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=September 4, 2009}}</ref>

Five theses or dissertations have been written about Ada Snell. In 1930, A. Dodson wrote a thesis entitled "Ada Jack Carver." In 1931, M. I. Bowman wrote the thesis, "The Negro in the Works of Three Contemporary Louisiana Writers," including Snell. In 1975, O. L. Ford  wrote the dissertation, ''Ada Jack Carver: A Critical Biography.'' In 1986, Mildred Acres Houston submitted her masters thesis at [[Northwestern State University]] in Natchitoches entitled, "The Shadow of Africa on the Cane: An exami."ation of Africanisms in the Fiction of Lyle Saxon and Ada Jack Carver." In 1994, D. M. W. Taylor wrote the dissertation, "Louisiana's Literary Legacy: A Critical Appraisal of the Writings of Ada Jack Carver."<ref name=novelg/>

Five theses or dissertations have been written about Ada Snell. In 1930, A. Dodson wrote a thesis entitled "Ada Jack Carver." In 1931, M. I. Bowman wrote the thesis, "The Negro in the Works of Three Contemporary Louisiana Writers," including Snell. In 1975, O. L. Ford  wrote the dissertation, ''Ada Jack Carver: A Critical Biography.'' In 1986, Mildred Acres Houston submitted her masters thesis at [[Northwestern State University]] in Natchitoches entitled, "The Shadow of Africa on the Cane: An exami."ation of Africanisms in the Fiction of Lyle Saxon and Ada Jack Carver." In 1994, D. M. W. Taylor wrote the dissertation, "Louisiana's Literary Legacy: A Critical Appraisal of the Writings of Ada Jack Carver."<ref name=novelg/>

==Death==

==Death==

John Hampton Snell (1919-1921),<ref>Minden Cemetery records, Minden, Louisiana</ref> the Snells' first child, died in a household accident at the age of two, only two days before the birth of his brother, David Snell (1921–1987). After graduation from Minden High School and [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]], David Snell became a [[journalist]] and [[cartoon]]ist for ''[[Life Magazine]]'' and several other national publications.

John Hampton Snell (1919-1921),<ref>Minden Cemetery records, Minden, Louisiana</ref> the Snells' first child, died in a household accident at the age of two, only two days before the birth of his brother, [[David Snell (journalist)|David Snell]]. After graduation from Minden High School and [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]], David Snell became a [[journalist]] and [[cartoon]]ist for ''[[Life Magazine]]'' and several other national publications.

John and Ada Snell are interred beside "Our Little Son John Hampton Snell," the inscription on the child's grave marker at the old section of Minden Cemetery. All of Ada's personal papers are believed to have been destroyed at her death upon her request. It is unknown if any manuscripts were pending. Numerous unresolved mysteries cloud the connection between her personal life and her literary output. She was a widow for the last thirteen years of her life.<ref name=novelg/> She apparently wrote nothing for four years after the time of John Hampton's death and David's birth. Her death occurred in the same month, December 1972, as the closing of ''Life Magazine,'' her son's principal employer.

John and Ada Snell are interred beside "Our Little Son John Hampton Snell," the inscription on the child's grave marker at the old section of Minden Cemetery. All of Ada's personal papers are believed to have been destroyed at her death upon her request. It is unknown if any manuscripts were pending. Numerous unresolved mysteries cloud the connection between her personal life and her literary output. She was a widow for the last thirteen years of her life.<ref name=novelg/> She apparently wrote nothing for four years after the time of John Hampton's death and David's birth. Her death occurred in the same month, December 1972, as the closing of ''Life Magazine,'' her son's principal employer.