Abigail Adams (1744

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Biography

Abigail Adams was the wife and closest advisor of John Adams, the second president of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States. She was a founder of the United States, and was both the first second lady and second first lady of the United States, although such titles were not used at the time. She and Barbara Bush are the only two women in American history who were both married to a U.S. president and the mother of a U.S. president.

In Their Own Words (5)

It is really mortifying, sir, when a woman possessed of a common share of understanding considers the difference of education between the male and female sex, even in those families where education is attended to... Nay why should your sex wish for such a disparity in those whom they one day intend for companions and associates. Pardon me, sir, if I cannot help sometimes suspecting that this neglect arises in some measure from an ungenerous jealousy of rivals near the throne.

Letter to John Thaxter (15 February 1778) , 1778

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.

Letter to John Quincy Adams (8 May 1780) , 1780

If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?

Letter to John Thaxter (29 September 1778) , 1778

I regret the narrow contracted education of the females of my own country.

Letter to John Adams (30 June 1778) , 1778

Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend. I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long.

Last words in a letter to John Adams, as quoted in Famous Last Words (1961) by Barnaby Conrad , 1961

Timeline

The story of Abigail Adams, told in moments.

1744 Birth

Born Abigail Smith in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Never formally schooled. Educated herself through her father's library and the guidance of her grandmother.

Did educating yourself through your father's library feel like freedom or necessity? Was your grandmother the real teacher? Did the lack of formal schooling ever limit you?

1776 Event

Wrote to John Adams at the Continental Congress: "Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors." He laughed it off in his reply.

Did John laughing off 'Remember the Ladies' hurt or just confirm what you already knew? Was that letter ahead of its time or exactly on time? Would you write it differently today?

1784 Event

Crossed the Atlantic to join John in Europe. Served as his closest political advisor during his ambassadorships to France and Britain. Their letters number over 1,100.

Was crossing the Atlantic to join John an adventure or a sacrifice? Were those 1,100 letters your real partnership? Did you advise him or guide him?

1797 Event

Became First Lady when John took office as the second president. She was the first to live in the White House, hanging laundry in the unfinished East Room.

What was it like hanging laundry in the unfinished East Room of the White House? Was being First Lady a role you wanted? Did the presidency change John or just his address?

1818 Death

Died of typhoid fever at 73. She and Barbara Bush remain the only two women in American history to be both wife and mother of a president.

Does sharing the distinction with Barbara Bush feel like a footnote or a legacy? Was being both wife and mother of a president a blessing or a pattern? What would you tell the Ladies now?

Artifacts (3)

Letters of Mrs. Adams

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE extremely favorable reception which the Letters of Mrs. Adams have thus far met with from the American public, encourages the Editor to attempt the present...

1840

Letters Read Talk

Records from tombstones in Woodland cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa

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Works Read Talk

Familiar letters of John Adams and his wife Abigail Adams, during the revolution

THE LIBRARY OF v. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GIFT OF FAMILIAR LETTERS OF JOHN ADAMS AND HIS WIFE ABIGAIL ADAMS, DURING THE REVOLUTION. MEMOIR OF MRS. ADAMS. CHARLES FRANCIS...

1875

Letters Read Talk

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