Marcia C. Snow

Marcia C. Snow was born in February 1809 in Chesterfield, New Hampshire.¹ Little is known about her early life. She came to the White House with her husband, William H. Snow, in 1853 to assist him in his role as steward to President Franklin Pierce. Hired as purveyor to the kitchens, Marcia helped manage culinary operations, coordinate catering, and organize official meals.² 

While the Snows initially arrived during the Pierce administration, records suggest that William Snow remained on the White House staff until November 1857 during James Buchanan’s presidency; Marcia likely continued serving alongside him during that time.³ After their time in Washington, the couple settled on a farm in Virginia. They also operated a business in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., selling lumber and coal.⁴ William died in 1885, and Marcia later relocated to Takoma Park, Maryland.⁵ She passed away on January 9, 1899, and was buried beside her husband in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.⁶ 

Thank you to James Buchanan’s Wheatland for providing research assistance with this biography.