John Quincy 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
What a crock
He didn’t really keep an alligator in the bathtub.
Related blog posts
My shared ancestor with three presidents!
… and library 😍
Doodles inspired by Bob Crawford’s new book
Comparing and contrasting four summer babies
In the name of studying and procrastination, here’s a bunch of TV and movies I’ve watched and rewatched to prepare for this series.
United First Parish Church (including their crypt!), Bunker Hill Monument, USS Constitution, and Massachusetts Historical Society
Q & A follow up
How did JQA lose the popular vote and the electoral college and still become president?
Great question. This explains it far better than I ever could.
What was the itinerary for the trip in preparation for this talk?
I still can’t believe how much of my very unrealistic to-do list we got through:
DAY 1:
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Cambridge, MA
The Old Burying Ground
Watertown, MA
For more, check out this post.
DAY 2:
Revolutionary Farm at Penn’s Hill
John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces
For more, check out this post.
United First Parish Church
Quincy, MA
[then we combed a beach for sea glass… ]
DAY 3:
Massachusetts Historical Society
Boston, MA
Bunker Hill Monument
Charlestown, MA
USS Constitution
Charlestown, MA
For more, check out this post.
Etc.
Sources
Doodles for this presentation were inspired by:
America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick, by Bob Crawford
Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, by Cokie Roberts
Heirs of the Founders: Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster, the Second Generation of American Giants, by H. W. Brands
The Humanity Archive: Recovering the Soul of Black History from a Whitewashed American Myth, by Jermaine Fowler
The President Is Dead! The Extraordinary Stories of Presidential Deaths, Final Days, Burials, and Beyond, by Louis L. Picone
Everything You Need to Ace U.S. History in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guide, by Workman Publishing, Lily Rothman, Editors of Brain Quest
Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents: Strange Stories and Shocking Trivia from Inside the White House, by Cormac O’Brien
The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, by William A. DeGreorio
Check out my bibliography for more.
Next up: Andrew Jackson
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.
Skinnydipper 💦