The final flight: unpublished documents concerning the death and estate of Emília Snethlage, 1868-1929

Abstract

Emília Snethlage came to Brazil from Germany in 1905 to work at the Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará [Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi], going on to become a distinguished ornithologist. In 1922, she started working for the National Museum as a traveling naturalist. In September 1929, she traveled to Porto Velho to study the birds of the Madeira River. On November 25, she was found dead in her hotel room. This study presents unpublished documents from the National Museum concerning Snethlage’s death, some of which were sent there from Porto Velho, including a death certificate, her place of burial, and her estate. These documents escaped the 2018 fire at the museum.