Thank you, Brian, for that excellent suggestion.
It has struck me that 'The New York Times' archive, fabulous resource though it is, will only contain information on the careers of those passengers who were natives of that city or who moved on the international stage, in the European capitals and the fashionable holiday resorts. Which makes it far more difficult to research the likes of, say, Helen Churchill Candee, who was primarily based in Washington, Midwesterners, like the Minahans and the Snyders, and Canadians, like the Davidsons and Fortunes. Which is not to say that any of these individuals WEREN'T socially active in their native cities, just that those activities would not be likely to garner much coverage in 'The Times'.
A decade or so after he survived the 'Titanic', John Snyder was profiled in a survey of prominent Minneapolitans. He was hailed as:
'a representative of one of the oldest and most honoured families of the city...and, well descended and well bred, possessed of sterling personal qualities, he has always maintained his position in social circles, having a legion of friends, who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.'
His business interests are listed - yes, he did own a garage and also operated a truck dealership, besides being Vice-President of the Millers and Traders State Bank. It seems that he and Nelle were married on 22 January, 1912, and had two sons and a daughter. I do wonder if the Snyders might have come across Constance Willard or her family at some point, since it seems that they had connections in Minneapolis and were in similarly affluent circumstances.
