John Adams Manuscript Collection,1919-1982

University Archives

MS-0051

Library and Information Access

San Diego State University

5500 Campanile Drive

San Diego, CA 92182-8050

Extent
1.46 linear feet (3 document storage boxes, 1 half-size document storage box).

Copyright
The copyright interests in the materials found in this collection belong to San Diego State University. Special Collections and University Archives can only grant permission to publish materials for which it is the copyright holder. For further information, please consult the section on copyright in the rules for using the collections, or contact the United States Copyright Office at (202) 707-3000 or http://www.copyright.gov.

Preferred Citation
Identification of item, folder title, box number, John Adams Manuscript Collection, San Diego State University Archives Multimedia Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Library and Information Access, San Diego State University.

Processing Information
Processed by Ellen Jarosz and Peter McMahon, May 2006.

Contact Information
Special Collections and University Archives
Library and Information Access
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8050

John Adams was born 22 July 1900 in Cincinnati, Ohio. While attending college at the University of Michigan, John met and married his wife, Jane. In 1925 the couple moved to Seattle where John had secured a position at the University of Washington.

While in Seattle John contracted tuberculosis, and so, in 1928 the couple moved to San Diego to help improve his health. He soon accepted a position at San Diego State Teachers College teaching English Composition. As part of his long career at San Diego State, Dr. Adams eventually became Chairman of Humanities, a post he held from 1956 to his retirement in 1968.

Throughout his years at Michigan, Washington, and San Diego State, John Adams worked to publish articles, books, and book reviews, and built numerous collections with his wife, Jane, of postcards, cookbooks, books, and ephemera, etc. Much of the correspondence generated in these pursuits is included in the collection.

After his retirement in 1968, John Adams became part-time university archivist for San Diego State College. John and Jane donated generously to the university. Their donations consisted of books, postcards, ephemera, and manuscripts. One of the university's most noted academicians, Dr. Adams' name graces the Adams Humanities Building, which opened in 1977. Both John and his wife were charter members of the Friends of the Library, with John serving as chairman of the group.

The Adams Manuscript Collection documents John Adams efforts at publication, his years at San Diego State College as a professor, department chair, and University Archivist, his relationship and publications from the San Diego Union, and some limited parts of his personal life. The collection dates from approximately 1919-1982, with the bulk of documents created from the 1930s-1970s. The collection consists predominantly of publications and correspondence created during John Adams years at Michigan and San Diego State College. It is divided into four series: Publications, San Diego State College, San Diego Union, and Personal. There are no subseries. Several other collections donated by the Adams are described and housed separately from these materials. They are listed under a subsequent heading in this finding aid.

The Publications series documents the public face of John Adams' during his years at the University of Michigan and San Diego State College. Included are some of Adams' own articles published at Michigan, as well as some books and manuscripts he edited or helped other authors complete. It is arranged alphabetically by file name, and dates from 1921-74.

The San Diego State College series dates from 1931 to 1972, with the bulk of documents generated during the 1950s, and documents John Adams' departure from the University of Washington, as well as his work at San Diego State College. The series is almost entirely comprised of correspondence documenting such varied topics as the dedication of the Adams Humanities Building and the establishment of San Diego State University's University Archives. Folders are arranged chronologically, but there is little order within each folder.

The San Diego Union series dates from 1931-1982, with the bulk of documents generated during the 1930s. The series documents John's work reading and publishing book reviews in the San Diego Union, consisting primarily of correspondence between the author and editors. Book reviews published after the 1930s are covered somewhat unevenly. Files are arranged both in alpha-numeric order.

The Personal series, dating from 1926-1977 documents John and Jane Adams' work as private collectors and the process of donating materials to SDSU's Special Collections and University Archives department in the library. It includes correspondence about collecting political buttons, books, memorabilia and ephemera, postcards, and papers, as well as some family correspondence. It is arranged alphabetically by file name.

Organization and Arrangement
I. Publications, 1921-74
II. San Diego State College, 1931-1972
III. San Diego Union, 1931-1982
IV. Personal, 1926-1977

Subject Access Terms
John Adams, 1900-1994.
San Diego State College.
San Diego State University.

Related Collections at San Diego State University
John and Jane Adams Autograph Albums Collection
John and Jane Adams Artwork Collection
John and Jane Adams Ephemera Collection
John and Jane Adams Greeting Card Collection
John and Jane Adams Menu Collection
John and Jane Adams Photograph Collection
John and Jane Adams Postcard Collection
John and Jane Adams Postcard Periodicals Collection
Jane Adams Recipe Collection

1	1	1921, 1923, 1972
	2	1941, 1954, 1959
	3	San Diego Authors, 1967-1974
	4	Stowe Book edited by Adams, 1972
	5	Stowe Book Manuscript, n.d.

		Series II, San Diego State College, 1931-1972
	6	Adams Humanities Building, 1966-1977
	7	Addresses Given, 1956-1972
	8	Correspondence, 1930s and 1940s
2	1-2	Correspondence, 1950s
	3	Correspondence, 1960s
	4	Correspondence, 1970s and 1980s
	5	Establishment of University Archives, 1952-1976
	6	Phono Disc: Date with Knowledge, 1947 (78 speed)
	7	Western College Association Correspondence, 1955-1959

		Series III, San Diego Union, 1931-1982
	8	Book Review Editor Correspondence, 1919
	9	Book Review Editor Correspondence, 1930s
3	1- 2	Book Review Editor Correspondence, 1930s
	3	Book Review Editor Correspondence, 1947-1982
	4	Book Review Editor Correspondence, Carey McWilliams
	5	Book Review, Gospel According to Pontins Pilate
	6	Literary Guide Posts, 1932-1933
	7	Social Notes

		Series IV, Personal, 1926-1977
	8	Adams Memorabilia
	9	Cook Books Correspondence, 1940
	10	Book Collecting and General Correspondence, 1930-1935
	11	Correspondence From Mother, Father, Family 1926-1927, 1958, 1977
4	1	Correspondence and Papers, 1937-1977
	2	Daily Food Record – Jane Adams, n.d.
	3	Correspondence Regarding Postcard Collection, 1959-1982
	4	Political Button Collecting Correspondence, ca.1967