Thomas R. Adams
Encyclopedia
Thomas Randolph Adams was librarian of the John Carter Brown Library
and John Hay Professor of Bibliography and University Bibliographer at Brown University
.
, and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his father was Librarian of the William L. Clements Library
, part of the University of Michigan Library
system. Adams served in the U. S. Navy during World War II, and graduated from the University of Michigan
in 1944. He received an MA from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1949. In 1951, he married Virginia Matzke Adams, with whom he had three daughters: Virginia Hedges Adams, Josephine Lippincott Adams, and Eliza Stokes Adams.
. He served as curator of rare books in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library at the University of Pennsylvania
from 1950 to 1955. rare books. In 1955, he was appointed Custodian of the Chapin Library at Williams College
, remaining there until 1957, when he was appointed Librarian of The John Carter Brown Library. He retired from that position in 1983, and stayed on as University Professor at Brown until 1991.
Adams served on the boards and advisory committees of many institutions including the Rhode Island Historical Society
, Rhode Island School of Design
, Providence Athenaeum
and Mystic Seaport Museum.
He served on the Council of the Bibliographical Society of America
, 1969–1980, and as its President, 1978-1980. He was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1963, a National Endowment for the Humanities Senior Fellow in 1971, and recipient of several National Endowment for the Humanities
and Mellon Foundation publication grants. He was a member of the American Antiquarian Society
, Massachusetts Historical Society
, Colonial Society of Massachusetts
, Club of Odd Volumes, Grolier Club
, as well as the Century and Barnstable, Massachusetts
Yacht Clubs.
He was the 2008 recipient of the John Carter Brown Library Medal, in recognition of distinguished service to the Library. he died in Providence, Rhode Island
.
John Carter Brown Library
The John Carter Brown Library is an independently funded research library of history and the humanities located on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island...
and John Hay Professor of Bibliography and University Bibliographer at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
.
Early life, education, and family
The son of Randolph G. Adams and Helen Spiller Adams, he was born in Durham, North CarolinaDurham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his father was Librarian of the William L. Clements Library
William L. Clements Library
The William L. Clements Library is a rare book and manuscript repository located on the University of Michigan's central campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan...
, part of the University of Michigan Library
University of Michigan Library
The University of Michigan University Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is one of the largest university library systems in the United States. The system, consisting of 19 separate libraries in 11 buildings, altogether holds over 9.55 million volumes, with the collection growing at the rate of...
system. Adams served in the U. S. Navy during World War II, and graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1944. He received an MA from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1949. In 1951, he married Virginia Matzke Adams, with whom he had three daughters: Virginia Hedges Adams, Josephine Lippincott Adams, and Eliza Stokes Adams.
Career as a rare book librarian
Adams began his career in rare books in 1947 at the Library Company of PhiladelphiaLibrary Company of Philadelphia
The Library Company of Philadelphia is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded by Benjamin Franklin as a library, the Library Company of Philadelphia has accumulated one of the most significant collections of historically valuable manuscripts and printed material in...
. He served as curator of rare books in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
from 1950 to 1955. rare books. In 1955, he was appointed Custodian of the Chapin Library at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, remaining there until 1957, when he was appointed Librarian of The John Carter Brown Library. He retired from that position in 1983, and stayed on as University Professor at Brown until 1991.
Adams served on the boards and advisory committees of many institutions including the Rhode Island Historical Society
Rhode Island Historical Society
The Rhode Island Historical Society is a privately endowed membership organization, founded in 1822, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Rhode Island...
, Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
, Providence Athenaeum
Providence Athenaeum
The Providence Athenaeum, founded in 1753 in Providence, Rhode Island, is the fourth oldest subscription library in the United States. Only the Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, Newport's Redwood Library and Athenaeum, founded in 1747, and the Charleston Library...
and Mystic Seaport Museum.
He served on the Council of the Bibliographical Society of America
Bibliographical Society of America
The Bibliographical Society of America is the oldest learned society in North America that studies books and manuscripts as physical objects. Established in 1904, the society promotes bibliographical research and issues bibliographical publications...
, 1969–1980, and as its President, 1978-1980. He was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1963, a National Endowment for the Humanities Senior Fellow in 1971, and recipient of several National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
and Mellon Foundation publication grants. He was a member of the American Antiquarian Society
American Antiquarian Society
The American Antiquarian Society , located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is both a learned society and national research library of pre-twentieth century American History and culture. Its main building, known also as Antiquarian Hall, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark...
, Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society
The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history...
, Colonial Society of Massachusetts
Colonial Society of Massachusetts
The Colonial Society of Massachusetts is a US non-profit educational foundation, founded in 1892, and established for the study of the history of Massachusetts. The period of study is from its settlement through the early nineteenth century. It is a member of the New England Regional Fellowship...
, Club of Odd Volumes, Grolier Club
Grolier Club
The Grolier Club is a private club and society of bibliophiles in New York City. Founded in January 1884, it is the oldest existing bibliophilic club in North America. The club is named after Jean Grolier de Servières, Viscount d'Aguisy, Treasurer General of France, whose library was famous; his...
, as well as the Century and Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
Yacht Clubs.
He was the 2008 recipient of the John Carter Brown Library Medal, in recognition of distinguished service to the Library. he died in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
Published works
- American Independence: The Growth of an Idea (1965)
- The American Controversy: A Bibliographical Study of the British Pamphlets about the American Disputes, 1764-1783 (1980)
- English Maritime Books Before 1801, with D. W. Waters (1995).
- Defining Americana: The Evolution of The John Carter Brown Library (2008).