Although the concept of the dynamic absorber and its potential for vibration reduction were first discussed in the early part of this century, John Snowdon's comprehensive work in this area was certainly a pioneering effort. By rephrasing the standard equations in terms of complex dynamic moduli, it became possible to treat viscoelastic (rubberlike) absorber damping, as well as the conventional viscous damping. For either type, Dr. Snowdon provided expressions and curves for the socalled optimum tuning and damping conditions, thus placing the solutions to many practical vibration problems within reach. In this paper, the performance of several beamlike dynamic vibration absorbers is analyzed and, in selected cases, confirmed by experiment. The absorbers are employed to suppress the transmissibility at resonance across a simple mass-spring vibrator, a stanchion, and a simply supported rectangular panel. The absorbers comprise either single or double cantilever beams that are mass loaded at their free ends, or clamped-clamped beams that are centrally mass loaded. Analyses are based throughout on the Bernoulli-Euler beam and thin-plate theories without simplification.