John Adams
In 2026, I’m partnering with Ashland Public Library for a yearlong virtual presidential series. We’re tackling each president chronologically on the second Friday at 10:30 A.M. EST. It’s going to be a lot of fun. To register or see the full schedule, click here.
Additional reading
(From people who know what they are doing!)
The Massachusetts Historical Society has a really cool timeline to explore and I sure wish I discovered it before my failed attempt…
John Adams was born in the house on the right; John Quincy Adams in the house on the left.
Alien & Sedition Acts
More about John Adams
Always remember the ladies
Related blog posts
I think. But I’m not even an amateur genealogist. It’s possible that I’ve relied on unreliable sources and am spewing nonsense.
It’s also possible that after a bunch of delightful serendipitous happenings, I tripped over my roots and accidentally discovered I’m related to our 2nd and 6th presidents.
Flip through my sketchbook and then get yourself a copy of this book.
Including, but not limited to, the Adamses.
Of course there were. Here are eight of them.
Abigail wrote more than 1,100 letters to John between 1762 and 1801!
Click and scroll down a bit for more on “Black Dick”, including an unintentionally (?) hilarious educational video
Adams was born in one of our birthiest months, presidentially speaking.
Q & A follow up
Anthropomorphic states stripping women’s rights
This New Jersey was inspired by Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, by Cokie Roberts; the other state doodle was inspired by 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents, by David Pietrusza (I was right!). You can flip through my other doodles here.
Henry & Clover
Asked if I’d ever doodled Henry and Clover, I said no — because I didn’t know who that was. Clover and Henry Adams were married — I have several doodles of Henry Adams, including this one. Adams said Theodore Roosevelt lived in “abject terror” of his wife Edith. I look forward to learning more about Clover.
Unfortunately, it seems it’s not known why John Adams named his dog Satan.
John Adams drafted the 1780 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Etc.
Lin-Mauel Miranda performing John Adams Rap
Sources
Doodles for this presentation were inspired by:
Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, by Cokie Roberts
Gallop Toward the Sun: Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison's Struggle for the Destiny of a Nation, by Peter Stark
William Henry Harrison: The American Presidents Series: The 9th President, 1841, by Gail Collins
The Remarkable Millard Fillmore: The Unbelievable Life of a Forgotten President, by George Pendle
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, by Joseph J. Ellis
Bob’s Folly: Fulton, Livingston and the Steamboat, by Travis M. Bowman
Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose, by Joe Biden
Gallop Toward the Sun: Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison's Struggle for the Destiny of a Nation, by Peter Stark
You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington, by Alexis Coe
The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution, by Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky
Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy, by Nathaniel Philbrick
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington, by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution, by Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky
The President Is Dead! The Extraordinary Stories of Presidential Deaths, Final Days, Burials, and Beyond, by Louis L. Picone
Also referenced:
499 Facts about Hip-Hop Hamilton and the Rest of America's Founding Fathers, by Stephen Spignesi
Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents: Strange Stories and Shocking Trivia from Inside the White House, by Cormac O’Brien
Check out my bibliography for more.
PS TV
Franklin
Mini series, Apple+
John Adams
Mini series, HBO
The American Revolution
Ken Burns’ documentary, PBS
Paul Giamatti is John Adams again!
Next up: Thomas Jefferson
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and is in collaboration with a multitude of MA and NH libraries.
MA: Amherst, Andover, Chatham, Chelmsford, Cohasset, Cotuit, Falmouth, Groton, Hanover, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Maynard, North Reading, Quincy, Shutesbury, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Wellesley, West Newbury, and Woburn; NH: Amherst, Dover, and Greenfield.
His Superfluous Excellency