Letters written about John Adams
From Bpljohnadamsmss
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
Date: May 15, 1773
Type: ADS
Creator: Hill, John.
Place of creation: [Boston, Mass.]
Recipient: Suffolk Sessions
Place of receipt: [Boston, Mass.]
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 19 x 16 cm.
Summary: Hill attests to his inability of attend the Plymouth county Court and of notification sent to Maccarthy who did not attend, nor did his lawyer, John Adams. Stored with various other items; on verso of ADS of deposition of Benjamin Church.
Former BPL Call#: Ch.A.4.72
New Call #: Adams 366
Date: Aug. 20, 1776
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Boston, Ma.
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Hingham, Ma.
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 31 x 19 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (1)
New Call #: Adams 367
Date: Apr. 9, 1778
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Yorktown, Pa.
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 32 x 19 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (2)
New Call #: Adams 368
Date: May 21, 1778
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Yorktown, Pa.
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 33 x 21 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Affectionate cousin, Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (3)
New Call #: Adams 369
Date: June 22, 1778
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Yorktown, Pa.
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 20 x 16 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (4)
New Call #: Adams 370
Date: July 23, 1778
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 19 x 16 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (5)
New Call #: Adams 371
Date: Aug. 26, 1778
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Philadelphia, Pa.
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 20 x 16 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (6)
New Call #: Adams 372
Date: Sept. 2, 1778
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Philadelphia, Pa.
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 32 x 20 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (7)
New Call #: Adams 373
Date: Sept. 29, 1778
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Braintree, Ma.
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Philadelphia, Pa.
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 21 x 17 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (8)
New Call #: Adams 374
Date: Jan. 18, 1779
Type: ALS
Creator: Price, Richard, 1723-1791.
Place of creation: Newington Green
Recipient: [Lee, Arthur]
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm.
Summary: Includes messages to be conveyed to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Portrait of Richard Price stored in folder.
Former BPL Call#: Ch.G.2.32
New Call #: Adams 375
Date: Mar. 2, 1780
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Paris, France
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “A.A.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (9)
New Call #: Adams 376
Date: July 21, 1780
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Paris, France
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 24 x 19 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (10)
New Call #: Adams 377
Date: Dec. 8, 1780
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Paris, France
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 32 x 21 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Portion of Adams family crest is visible in wax seal. Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (11)
New Call #: Adams 378
Date: Feb. 5, 1781
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Amsterdam
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 32 x 21 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Portion of Adams family crest is visible in wax seal. Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (12)
New Call #: Adams 379
Date: May 23, 1781
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Amsterdam
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 32 x 21 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (13)
New Call #: Adams 380
Date: Dec. 7, 1781
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Amsterdam
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 32 x 21 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Affection friend Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (14)
New Call #: Adams 381
Date: June 17, 1782
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Amsterdam
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 32 x 21 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (15)
New Call #: Adams 382
Date: July 18, 1782
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: The Hague
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 32 x 21 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (16)
New Call #: Adams 383
Date: Oct. 26, 1782
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: The Hague
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available. In fragile condition.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (17)
New Call #: Adams 384
Date: April 29, 1783
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Paris
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Affectionately your friend Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (18)
New Call #: Adams 385
Date: July 1, 1783
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Braintree, Mass.
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 21 x 16 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Portia.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (19)
New Call #: Adams 386
Date: June 7, 1784
Type: ALS
Creator: Norton, Elizabeth (Cranch), 1763-1811.
Place of creation: Braintree, Mass.
Recipient: Cranch, John.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (8 p.) ; 24 x 19 cm.
Summary: Norton discusses her family, including close family ties with John Adams and the rest of the Adams family. Stored in a folder with other letters unrelated to Adams.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Eng.483 (398-401)
New Call #: Adams 387
Date: June 13, 1784
Type: ALS
Creator: Palmer, Joseph Pearse, 1750-1797.
Place of creation: Germantown, Mass. [i.e. Quincy, Mass.]
Recipient: Cranch, John.
Place of receipt: Axminster, [Devon, England]
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 23 x 21 cm.
Summary: Palmer comments on the difficulty John Adams may have in obtaining commercial treaty with Great Britain. Postscript by Elizabeth (Hunt) Palmer; postal markings.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Eng.483 (418)
New Call #: Adams 388
Date: Oct. 11, 1784
Type: ALS
Creator: Cranch, Richard, 1726-1811.
Place of creation: Braintree, Mass.
Recipient: Cranch, John.
Place of receipt: Axminster, [Devon, England]
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 33 x 20 cm.
Summary: Richard Cranch comments on the probably failures of importing beer, and sends greetings to John Adams. Stored in folders with other letters from Cranch, unrelated to Adams.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Eng.483 (392-396)
New Call #: Adams 389
Date: Oct. 13, 1784
Type: ALS
Creator: Palmer, Joseph, 1716-1788.
Place of creation: Germantown [i.e. Quincy, Mass.]
Recipient: Cranch, John.
Place of receipt: Axminster, Devon, [England]
Physical description: 1 item ( 4 p.) ; 23 x 20 cm.
Summary: Palmer notes Adams’s short stay in London, opportunities for lawyers in America, and financial losses caused by the Revolution.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Eng.483 (406)
New Call #: Adams 390
Date: Mar. 20, 1785
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Auteuil, France
Recipient: Thaxter, John.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 23 x 19 cm.
Summary: On various subjects, including the Revolutionary War and her husband, John Adams. Signed, “Affectionate friend Abigail Adams.” Transcriptions available.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (20)
New Call #: Adams 391
Date: June 15, 1785
Type: ALS
Creator: Cranch, John 1751-1821.
Place of creation: Axminster [Devon, England]
Recipient: Cranch, Richard, 1726-1811.
Place of receipt: Braintree, Mass.
Physical description: 3 items (22 p.) ; 22 x 19 cm. (max.)
Summary: Relates news of Mr. Clapcott and John Adams.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Eng.483 (126-136)
New Call #: Adams 392
Date: Mar. 13, 1793
Type: AN
Creator: Jones, Joseph, 1727-1805.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: None
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (2 p.) ; 33 x 27 cm.
Summary: Contains references to John Adams, Franklin, and others. Spans Dec. 14, 1782-Mar. 13, 1793.
Former BPL Call#: Ch.C.2.72
New Call #: Adams 393
Date: Dec. 31, 1796
Type: ALS
Creator: Ebenezer, Seaver, 1763-1844.
Place of creation: Boston, Mass.
Recipient: Foster, Dwight, 1757-1823.
Place of receipt: Philadelphia, Pa.
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 25 x 21 cm.
Summary: On personal matters and the election of John Adams.
Former BPL Call#: Ch.F.3.19
New Call #: Adams 394
Date: July 8, 1797
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Philadelphia, Pa.
Recipient: Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814.
Place of receipt: Cambridge, [Ma.]
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 26 x 21 cm.
Summary: Discusses politics and her husband, John Adams.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.229 (22)
New Call #: Adams 395
Date: May 24, 1799 – March 5, 1801
Type: ALS
Creator: McHenry, James, 1753-1816.
Place of creation: Baltimore, Md.
Recipient: King, Rufus, 1755-1827.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 5 items (26 p.) ; 33 x 20 cm. (max.)
Summary: Discusses the election of 1800, including John Adams, General Cotesworth Pickney, and Thomas Jefferson.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.84
New Call #: Adams 396
Date: May 22, 1800
Type: ALS
Creator: McHenry, James, 1753-1816.
Place of creation: Philadelphia, Pa.
Recipient: Chase, Samuel, 1741-1811.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 27 x 21 cm.
Summary: On President Adams. In a folder with other letters by McHenry unrelated to Adams.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.85
New Call #: Adams 397
Date: March 2, 1803
Type: ALS
Creator: Adams, Abigail (Smith), 1744-1818.
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Adams, Thomas Boylston, 1772-1832.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 25 x 20 cm.
Summary: Abigail mentions a pamphlet John Adams received and translated into French, and which she would like to send to Thomas.
Former BPL Call#: Ch.M.1.7 (64)
New Call #: Adams 398
Date: Sept. 15, 1826
Type: ALS (copy)
Creator: Kirkland, John Thornton, 1770-1840.
Place of creation: Cambridge, Mass.
Recipient: Jay, Peter A.
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 25 x 20 cm.
Summary: Jay asks for his father’s recollection of John Adams’s theory of legislation.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.E.9.4 69-52
New Call #: Adams 399
Date: Sept. 26, 1830
Type: ALS
Creator: Harris, Thaddeus Mason, 1768-1842.
Place of creation: Dorchester, [Ma.] (i.e. Boston)
Recipient: Everett, Edward
Place of receipt: Charlestown, [Ma.] (i.e. Boston)
Physical description: 1 item (4 p.) ; 25 x 20 cm.
Summary: Harris requests copies of Everett’s publications not appearing on the attached list and notes that the catalogue of John Adams’s library does not contain works of Andrew Fletcher. Wax seal on back.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.Am.2006 (62)
New Call #: Adams 400
Date: Sept. 30, 1847
Type: ALS
Creator: de Wint, Caroline Amelia.
Place of creation: Cedar Grove
Recipient: “Dear Sir.”
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (3 p.) ; 18 x 12 cm.
Summary: de Wint values too highly the letters of her grandfather, John Adams. Mentions his and Abigail’s published letters.Also in folder: portrait of Charles Francis Adams and two other letters, one from de Windt and one from CFA.
Former BPL Call#: Ch.A.4.48
New Call #: Adams 401
Date: ca. 1906 (or later)
Type: TLS
Creator: Adams, Charles Francis, 1835-1915.
Place of creation: Boston, Mass.
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 14 x 21 cm.
Summary: Fragment letter discussing the Adams bookplate. Stored in a folder with other letters from CFA unrelated to John Adams.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.2722 (1-7)
New Call #: Adams 402
Date: 1952
Type: ATM Creator: Haraszti, Zoltan, 1892-1980.
Place of creation: Boston, Mass.
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 2 boxes ; 24 x 28 cm.
Summary: Final typescript, with author’s manuscript corrections and printer’s marks, of John Adams and the Prophets of Progress (Harvard UP, 1952).
Note: Shelved in original place with MSS.
Former BPL Call#: Ms.H.6.36
New Call #: Adams 403
Date: Unidentified
Type: Engraved portrait
Creator: Hall, H.B.
Place of creation: New York
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 20 x 15 cm.
Summary: Engraved portrait of John Adams, age approximately 40.
Former BPL Call#: Ch.E.8.41
New Call #: Adams 404
Date: Unidentified
Type: Engraved portrait
Creator: Johnson, T. ; Stuart, Gilbert
Place of creation: Unidentified
Recipient: Unidentified
Place of receipt: Unidentified
Physical description: 1 item (1 p.) ; 19 x 14 cm.
Summary: Engraved portrait copy of Stuart’s portrait of John Adams, age approximately 60.
Former BPL Call#: Ch.C.7.3e
New Call #: Adams 405
