Thomas Randolph Adams

ADAMS, THOMAS RANDOLPH, 87, former Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library, John Hay Professor of Bibliography and University Bibliographer at Brown University, died at home early Monday, December 1st.

The son of Randolph Greenfield Adams and Helen Spiller Adams, he was born in Durham, North Carolina, May 22, 1921, grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 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.

Adams's career in rare books began in 1947 at the Library Company of Philadelphia. He served as Curator of Rare Books at the University of Pennsylvania, 1950-1955, Custodian of the Chapin Library at Williams College, 1955-1957, and Librarian of The John Carter Brown Library, 1957-1983. He retired as University Professor in 1991. Adams was the author of many scholarly publications including 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 (1995) and his recently issued Defining Americana: The Evolution of The John Carter Brown Library (2008).

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 President, 1978-1980. He was a Guggenheim Fellow (1963), NEH Senior Fellow (1971) and recipient of several NEH 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, Century and Barnstable Yacht Clubs. He is the 2008 recipient of the JCB Medal, in recognition of distinguished service to the Library.

Adams is survived by his wife of 57 years, Virginia Matzke Adams; brother Richard Newbold Adams; three daughters: Virginia Hedges Adams, Josephine Lippincott Adams, Eliza Stokes Adams; five grandchildren: Tomas and Elena Savignano, Oliver and Roxanne Rivard, and Isaac Easton and three sons-in-law: Richard Savignano, Kenneth Rivard and Thomas Easton.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 8, at 11 a.m. at St. Martins Church, 50 Orchard Avenue, Providence. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Thomas R. Adams Fund at the John Carter Brown Library, P.O. Box 1894, Providence, RI 02912.