Items found in John Adams’s books
From Bpljohnadamsmss
Notes
Arrangement is by Adams call number. This list does not include stored pieces of broken spines, or actual parts of the books which have simply come detached. To see the title of the corresponding book, search the BPL Online Catalog or the John Adams Library website by call number.
John Adams is listed as both the creator and the recipient of items such as notes for himself that likely had no other intended audience. Unless any document is dated, no correlation is made between the date of the book and the date of the item found in the book, nor between Adams’s location and the time of the book’s publication, etc.
Abbreviations Used
AD: Autograph document
ADS: Autograph document signed
AL: Autograph letter
ALS: Autograph letter signed
ANS: Autograph note signed
DS: Document note
DNS: Document note signed
LS: Letter signed
TD: Typed document
TDS: Typed document signed
TLS: Typed letter signed
Adams call #: 11.1 Folio p. 725
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm. (note: 3 blank pages)
Summary: One paragraph of notes in Spanish. At head: “Marianan, Libro 28.c.12.p.725. 1505.”
Adams call #: 12.1 Folio p. 564
Type: Publisher’s advertisements
Creator: Stockdale, John, 1749?-1814.
Place of creation: London, England.
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 4 item (8 p.) ; 25 x 15 cm. (max.)
Summary: Four advertisements from London publisher John Stockdale, including William Perry’s New Pocket English Dictionary, and Twenty-five Sermons by Jedidiah Morse.
Adams call #: 12.6 v. 3 Folio
Type: Leaves
Creator: N/A
Place of creation: Unidentified ; probably New England
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 14 leaves ; 26 x 17 cm. (max.)
Summary: Includes maple and poplar of various sizes.
Adams call #: 12.6 v. 3 Folio p. 506-507
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (6 p.) ; 21 x 13 cm.
Summary: Adams’s notes on Plutarch; in Greek. These items are available for viewing on the John Adams Library website.
Adams call #: Adams 23.9 v. 1 p. 48-49
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 17 x 9 cm.
Summary: Adams’s notes on Homer; in French.
Adams call #: 23.10 v. 1 Folio first leaf
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: N/A
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 29 x 22 cm.
Summary: Preliminary matter which has come detached from volume; is annotated: “This Vol. was printed in 1775…”
Adams call #: 23.11 v. 2 Folio p. 158-159
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm.
Summary: Lengthy notes by Adams on the second volume of Ferguson.
Adams call #: Adams 31.1 Folio p. 496
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 21 x 17 cm.
Summary: Adam’s notes on Plato; in Greek.
Adams call #: Adams 32.1 Folio p. 344
Type: AN
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 9 x 12 cm.
Summary: Poem on small card; not in Adams’s handwriting.
Adams call #: 32.2 v. 14 Folio
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, Charles?
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 2 items (2 p.) ; 25 x 19 cm. (max)
Summary: Appears to be notes by Charles Adams in regard to a case for his client Richard Roe, who was overpaid ₤1000.
Adams call #: 52.2 v. 2 Folio p. 132-33
Type: AN
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 20 x 13 cm. (fold.)
Summary: Note entitled “Dower,” beginning, “Dower at Common law in the third part of all the lands…”
Adams call #: 52.2 v.2 Folio p. 314-315
Type: ANS
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Quincy, Mass.
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 13 x 20 cm.
Summary: Adams makes various notes, including pen trials and mathematical equations; includes wax seal with “A” in middle.
Adams call #: 52.2 v. 3 Folio p. 24-25
Type: ANS
Creator: Lowell, John, 1743-1802.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm.
Summary: Legal notes written by Lowell on behalf of his client, John Amory.
Adams call #: 62.8 Folio p. 98-99
Type: AN
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 2 items (2 p.) ; 16 x 6 cm. (max.)
Summary: Two fragments of paper, one of which has partial names: “John Fran...”; “Minuty…”; and “William P?...”
Adams call #: 62.10 Folio p. [8]-1
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826; Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826; Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 items (2 p.) ; 18 x 16 cm. (max.)
Summary: Two separate fragmented notes, one from John Adams and one from John Quincy Adams, of legal notes. Also available online for viewing on the John Adams Library website.
Adams call #: 71.4 Folio
Type: TD
Creator: George, William.
Place of creation: [London, England]
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 25 x 38 cm.
Summary: Advertisement for “William George, Perfumer, at the Civet Cat, the corner of Great Russell and Bridges-Streets, opposite Drury-Lane Playhouse.”
Adams call #: 82.1 Folio v.1, at t.p.
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 20 x 15 cm.
Summary: Adams appears to be citing Junius’ letter to Mansfied, in a letter that begins “I see through your whole Life, one uniform Plan to enlarge the Power of the crown…”
Adams call #: 91.5 Folio before “Table of All Kings…”
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 32 x 20 cm. (fold.)
Summary:
Adams call #: Adams 92.6 Folio
Type: AN
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm.
Summary: Commentary on Necker, not in Adams’s hand.
Adams call #: 92.8 Folio p. 272-273
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 12 x 19 cm.
Summary: Geometric drawings and figures, likely by Adams.
Adams call #: 110.3 v. 9 p. 254-255
Type: AN
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 12 x 9 cm.
Summary: Small piece of paper with various pen trials and signatures, including mathematical equations and names: “Mr. Elisha Blanchard,” “Goody Blake,” and “Dear Thomas.”
Adams call #: 110.3 v. 12 p. 138-139
Type: AD
Creator: Niles, William Ogden, d. 1857.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 items (1 p.) ; 5 x 20 cm.
Summary: Appears to be a bill for $3.37 from Niles to Adams for his subscription to the Niles Weekly Register. Is broken in half.
Adams call #: 110.3 v. 13 p. 96-97
Type: N/A
Creator: None
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 20 x 13 cm.
Summary: Blank piece of folded paper.
Adams call #: 110.3 v. 18 p. 158-159
Type: TD
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 14 x 11 cm.
Summary: Appears to be portion of index from financial register (top right corner); has “TBA” written at top, probably by Adams.
Adams call #: 112.2 v. 1 p. 20-21
Type: TD
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 7 x 11 cm.
Summary: Note card reading “The Cotillion Parties” and “Not Transferable.”
Adams call #: 122.2 Folio p. 114-155
Type: AN
Creator: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 13 x 8 cm.
Summary: Note, in French, written on the back of a BPL call slip. Not from Adams.
Adams call #: 132.6 p. 172-173
Type: TD
Creator: Geo. B. Bains & Sons.
Place of creation: Philadelphia, Pa.
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 3 x 6 cm.
Summary: Publisher’s business card; reads “Geo. B. Bains & Sons, Manufacturers of Trunks, Bags and Satchels, 402 Market Street, Philadelphia.”
Adams call #: 141.22a p. 24-25
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 4 x 12 cm.
Summary: Reads “Nouvelle Desev.”
Adams call #: 150.12 v. 1 from flyleaf
Type: ALS
Creator: Cerisier, Antoine-Marie, 1749-1828.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: The Hague
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 24 x 19 cm.
Summary: Letter from Cerisier to Adams, dated Aug. 10, 1786. In French; includes wax seal.
Adams call #: 150.12 v. 2
Type: ALS
Creator: Cerisier, Antoine-Marie, 1749-1828.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: The Hague
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 22 x 13 cm.
Summary: Letter from Cerisier to Adams, dated Aout [Aug.] 10, 1786; in French.
Adams call #: 150.20 p. 202-203
Type: AD
Creator: [Adams, John, 1735-1826.]
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 9 x 10 cm.
Summary: Notes in Spanish; appears to be Adams’s handwriting.
Adams call #: 150.20 p. 280-281
Type: AD
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 5 x 8 cm.
Summary: Cardboard note card with handwritten name and address: “Mr. Channing No. 7 Codman Street Codman Square.”
Adams call #: 160.10 preface
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 19 x 11 cm.
Summary: Two lines of notes in French.
Adams call #: 160.18 inside front cover
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 11 x 15 cm.
Summary: One line in Latin: “Donati Roma retis ac Recens.”
Adams call #: 170.5 v. 2 p. 422-[1]
Type: AD
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Quincy, Mass.
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 8 x 9 cm.
Summary: Receipt, partially lost. Reads: “Received Quincy 182? Twenty Five Dollars in full for ?? in which he lives belonging to JQ?? $25.0.”
Adams call #: 172.1 v. 2 before first flyleaf
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 3 x 9 cm.
Summary: Various mathematical figures and the sentence “Paid more than I have.”
Adams call #: 173.4 tipped in at front
Type: ANS
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 25 x 12 cm.
Summary: Appears to be notes, in French, on Cornelissen. Not in Adams’s handwriting.
Adams call #: 181.3 inside front cover
Type: TD (Newspaper fragment)
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: New-Harmony, Ind.
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 31 x 25 cm
Summary: Single page from The New-Harmony Gazette, dated April 5, 1826.
Adams call #: 193.7 p. 92-93
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 1 x 12 cm.
Summary: Sliver of paper reading “Sept.27 To Province for Stores” on one side and misc. pen trials on other side.
Adams call #: 200.2 v. 1 p. 112-113
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 9 x 6 cm.
Summary: List of items and their costs, such as “Glass 4:25” and Groceries 6:64.” The total sum is “16:53.” Appears to have been part of a longer note.
Adams call #: Adams 201.5 v. 2 p. 142-143
Type: TD
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 12 x 6 cm.
Summary: Clipping of newspaper, irregular shape. Inscribed “Postmaster Quincy”
Adams call #: Adams 201.16 p. 930-931
Type: AN
Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 3 x 19 cm.
Summary: On one side Adams writes: “I am personally acquainted with AB the above deponent and believe him [?]ed to credit for his veracity as a Witness.” On other side: two mathematical equations.
Adams call #: Adams 203.8 v. 1 p. 18-19
Type:
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 2 items ; 4 x 6 cm. (max.)
Summary: Two blank pieces of loose paper.
Adams call #: Adams 221.30 v. 1 p. 2-3
Type: DS
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 4 x 7 cm.
Summary: Appears to be bookplate. Reads “From the Author”; inscribed at top, “Mr. Brooks Adams.”
Adams call #: Adams 230.3
Type: AD
Creator: Pratt, John H.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Briesler, John Sr., Dr.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 10 x 17 cm.
Summary: Bill from Pratt to Briesler for tobacco, shaving supplies, and a palm leaf. Folder also includes small clipping of newspaper, approx. 4 x 6 cm, dated March 11, 1791.
Adams call #: Adams 232.1 inside binding
Type: AN
Creator: Unidentified
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 page) ; 20 x 13 cm.
Summary: List of names, in categories “G,” “H,” and “I.” Partial list; the rest appears to be lost.
