Abigail Adams Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation, interpretation and stewardship of Abigail Adams Birthplace, a national historic site, in Weymouth, Massachusetts. For more information, visiting hours, programming, and details on donation and volunteering, please visit our website at www.abigailadamsbirthplace.com
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Abigail Smith Adams (1744 -1818), first lady to the second President of the United States and mother of the sixth President, was one of the most respected and influential women of the early revolutionary period of American history. As the closest advisor to her husband, John, and a strong influence on her son, John Quincy, Abigail’s influence at the center of American political power spans a half century or more. Born November 11, 1744, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Abigail was educated at home, where she took advantage of the extensive library of her father, a minister. At nineteen, she married the young, Harvard-educated lawyer John Adams and moved to Braintree (now Quincy). There, she raised the couple’s four surviving children and managed the farm and household, as John spent more and more time away from home in the service of the young country. Their correspondence during these separations, which encompasses more than 1,100 surviving letters exchanged from the days of their courtship through the end of John Adams’ Presidency (1862-1801), provides a remarkable portrait of this Founding Father and Mother. Abigail died in Quincy on October 28, 1818. Although not formally educated, Abigail was an intellectual with strong beliefs and philosophy about republicanism. Arguably the most important woman of the Revolutionary and Early Republic periods of American history, her ideas about government and politics helped to shape the policies of her husband. Her strong advocacy for the rights of women make her an important figure in American Women’s history; she famously wrote, “If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves boundby any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” Abigail Adams is truly an unique figure in American history whose importance is difficult to overestimate.
Mission: Abigail Adams Historical Society (AAHS) is dedicated to commemorating and educating a worldwide audience about the extraordinary life and times of Abigail Smith Adams, a national treasure, and her legacy of service to country; and to preserving and interpreting her birthplace, the place where her character and ideals were formed, as a resource and inspiration for all. AAHS is the steward for the preservation of Abigail Adams' birthplace and first home, from1744 to her marriage to John Adams in 1764. The Society offers tours of the house and presents programs on this remarkable American, her family, and the era in which she lived.
Quincy Homestead 1686
"Wildly Exciting": Quincy Homestead and the Invention of Preservation Architecture - just a friendly reminder of this fascinating upcoming lecture on Saturday, February 1, at 10:30am, at Quincy Historical Society, 8 Adams Street - join us!
Royall House & Slave Quarters
The White House Historical Association's "Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood research initiative tells the stories of the enslaved and free African Americans who built, lived, and worked at the White House, as well as the surrounding homes on Lafayette Park." Read more at www.whitehousehistory.org/collections/slavery-in-the-presidents-neighborhood
This initiative is exploring all of the presidents' households, including those that reportedly didn't include enslaved workers. Turns out, it's not that simple.
"While the Adamses opposed slavery both morally and politically, they tolerated the practice in their daily lives and they may have hired out enslaved African Americans, paying wages to their owners, to work in the Vice President’s and President’s House."
Weymouth 400
It has been a good year of #rememberabigail. We are grateful for the our partners and patrons who have shared this past year with the Abigail Adams Historical Society.
Happy 275th Birthday, Abigail Adams!
First Image: Abigail Adams by Benjamin Blythe
Second Image: Abigail Adams by Gilbert Stuart
The last event commemorating #rememberabigail.
A special evening of unique historical programming to honor the 275th birthday anniversary of First Lady Abigail Adams
Stop by the Birthplace tomorrow and join us as we celebrate Abigail Smith Adams' 275th Birthday. Last open hours of the season Sunday, November 10 from 1-4 p.m.
Abigail Adams Birthplace renovations are going well, especially the work on the front of the house!
Beautiful day to celebrate Mr. Adams’ birthday at United First Parish Church (Unitarian Universalist) Quincy, MA.
Join us in celebrating our 2nd president.
Happy 284th Birthday to the Second President of the United States, John Adams!
The afternoon tour is sold out! Grab tickets today for the morning trolley tour Cradle to Grave- Abigail Smith Adams: Extraordinary Woman, Extraordinary Life. See our website for more details. Tour is Sunday, November 3 from 9-12. #tour #history #abigailadams #johnadams #quincy #weymouth
Photo Credit to Christa Savery Dunn. North Cemetery, neighbors to the Abigail Smith Adams Birthplace, and final resting place of Abigail's parents, The Rev. William and Elizabeth (Quincy) Smith.
George Washington's Mount Vernon
#OnThisDay in 1787, George Washington and 38 delegates signed the Constitution, creating a more perfect union, and one true national government: the United States of America 🇺🇸 #ConstitutionDay
Make it a weekend visiting historic homes, visit our friends in Quincy on Saturday and visit Abigail's Birthplace on Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
Just a friendly reminder of the next Dorothy Quincy Homestead Tour this Saturday, 9/7 - why not end the summer and begin the school year with a walk through a house which has been standing at the corner of Butler Road (No. 34) and Hancock Street since 1686?
Come and visit us. We are open for tours 11am to 2:30pm with the last tour at 2pm. Tours are every half hour and are offered at no charge, but donations are gratefully received.
For more information about the Dorothy Quincy Homestead, check our website at nscdama.org
John and Abigail knew the devastating effects of breast cancer in their family.
#otd in 1813, Abigail Adams Smith, aka "Nabby," died of breast cancer at age 48. She is interred in the Adams family tomb in Quincy's Hancock Cemetery. Her parents, John and Abigail Adams, are in our crypt across the green.
Our restoration artists!
Join us for BRAGB’s Peers, Beers and Networking at our Highland Ave job! DOE Zero Energy Ready certified project recently completed for #GreenPhoenixDevelopment #netzero #greenbuilding #carpentry
Our friends in Quincy.
Our doors are open! Come visit us at 1306 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA. Tour hours are Mon-Sat 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Church of the Presidents
Happy anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Adams! #otd in 1797, John Quincy and Louisa Catherine were married in London, England. The church and the Adams Crypt are open for tours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today if you want to wish them a happy anniversary in person!
Our friends in Braintree
Licenses were approved for the beer garden to operate on the ground of the Thayer House in September and October.
Adams National Historical Park
Starting today, July 16, you will be able to reserve tours ahead of time for Adams National Historical Park! You can reserve a full guided tour, a tour of Old House at Peace field, or the Birthplace homes. Click on the link below to see what's available!
If you have any questions about the reservation system, please call 877-444-6777.
https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300003
Some new history books to look for.
Seven books published in 2018 by the country’s most prominent historians have been named finalists for the George Washington Prize!
Weymouth 400
We're telling the story of Weymouth as we move toward our 400th-anniversary in 2022. You can be a part of the story by becoming a Weymouth 400 Sponsor!
We have several sponsorship levels available. Benefits include:
• Business listings and logos on the Weymouth 400 website and promotional materials
• Publicity and social media posts
• Your promotional materials at our booth at select events
• Use of the Weymouth 400 Sponsor logo
• Opportunity to host a sanctioned event during the 2022 commemoration.
Be a part of our story and show your community pride.
For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/W400Sponsorship
Photo: Abigail Adams Historical Society
Abigail Smith Adams’ letter to John describing the battle begins, “The day; perhaps the decisive Day is come on which the fate of America depends.” https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/doc?id=L17750618aa
On this day in 1775, The Battle of Bunker Hill began. Though it was a loss for the Americans, it was a Pyrrhic victory for the British. It is rumored that one British officer stated that another such victory would be the end of them. This battle showed the British that the Americans could and would fight.
From our #rememberabigail partner Weymouth Public Library
With her trademark wit and New England grit, Abigail Adams has long fascinated authors of fiction and nonfiction alike. This year, Weymouth Public Libraries has been a partner organization, along with the Massachusetts Historical Society and many others, in "Remember Abigail" a yearlong celebration of the life of Abigail Adams.
To that end, our librarians have selected some of their favorite books featuring the Massachusetts matriarch and created a list of discussion questions to help you dive headlong into the world of Abigail Adams.
https://www.masshist.org/rememberabigail/resources
Another First Lady
On this day in 1874, a future First Lady is born. This gifted woman has been overshadowed a bit by her successor, Eleanor Roosevelt. What a pity. You have to wonder if there was anything the talented Lou Hoover couldn’t do! ;)
Lou would become the first woman to earn a degree in geology from Stanford University. She once helped translate a classic work on mining from Latin into English, earning a prestigious award for her effort. She could speak five languages, including Mandarin Chinese. She was a philanthropist, an activist, a public speaker, and a leader in war relief efforts. She was the first First Lady to give a radio address. She created programs to combat the Great Depression.
In fact, if any First Lady but Eleanor Roosevelt had followed her, we would surely all know much more about Lou Hoover.
Lou met her husband in a geology class at Stanford. “Bert,” as she would call him, was immediately captivated “by her whimsical mind, her blue eyes and a broad grinnish smile.”
Unsurprisingly, the two hit it off. Both had been born in Iowa, then moved around a bit. Lou’s family finally settled in California when she was about 10 years old.
Lou was a tomboy! She loved hiking, camping, and playing sports. She received a good education and seemed prepared to follow a then-expected path: She was going to be a teacher. Then she heard a lecture by a Stanford professor in the spring of 1894. She was soon enrolled at Stanford instead.
Her life would never be the same.
Where to even start describing the active and varied life that would follow, as a result of this simple (but then daring) decision?
She married Bert, and the two traveled the world in conjunction with his mining work: Lou went to China, London, Egypt, Australia, and many other places. A rebellion in China put the Hoovers in a difficult situation, but Lou was on the forefront of the medical effort to help the wounded. In London, she was a gracious social host for her husband, even as she took classes at the London School of Mines. Later, during World War I, Lou began to work on war relief efforts.
At one point, she even left her two sons with family in America so she could go overseas and help. Upon her return, she served as President of the American Women’s War Relief Fund. She went on speaking tours to help war relief efforts. She encouraged Americans to conserve resources and to do without certain scarce items. These efforts were so prominent that they became known as “Hooverizing” or “Hoovering.”
Later, Lou took on other projects, such as helping the founders of the Girl Scouts and broadening opportunities for women to be involved in athletic sports.
Perhaps you won’t be surprised to hear about one controversial event that occurred during Lou’s tenure as First Lady: She invited the wife of a black congressman to the White House for tea. By then, Lou had been all over the world and had lived in many different cultures. The invitation was perfectly normal to her. In that day and age, it unfortunately still caused a bit of controversy for others.
Lou broke other barriers that made life just a bit more free for American women: She included pregnant women in White House receiving lines. She drove a car, even after she was First Lady. She wore pants instead of a skirt when she was at the presidential retreat.
How unfortunate that the wife of our 31st President has been overshadowed by her successor. Lou Hoover was quite a woman in her own right.
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Quincy Homestead 1686
Mark your calendars ~ only 7 weeks until Opening Day of Quincy Homestead's 2019 Season ~ Sunday, May 19th, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm!
New Illustrated Inventory: “The Letters of Abigail Adams”
Everyone knows Abigail Adams’s famous request to her husband to “Remember the Ladies” as he participated in discussions to form the new United States government. But what of Abigail’s other corresp…
One-Half the People, One-Half the History: The National Women’s Hall of Fame and its Quest to Preserve History | National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls is telling the stories of women who don't appear in history books.
Today is International Women's Day #RememberAbigail
Abigail Adams to her sister Mary Cranch, November 15, 1797: "If our State constitution had been equally liberal with that of New Jersey and admitted the females to a vote, I should certainly have exercised it."
#Rememberabigail
Our next event is February 12, 7:00 pm at the Thomas Crane Library in Quincy. Join us, as we discuss slavery in New England with Professor Kerima Lewis.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/globelocal/2019/01/22/historians-revisit-history-slaves-coming-new-england/RThtDDoahaT5C1nj1mqCWP/story.html
The Abigail Adams Historical Society will explore the subject of slavery in early America.
It was warm and cozy as we welcomed members to the Birthplace, thanks to a grant from the Weymouth Community Preservation Committee. A quote from a January 8, 1781 letter from Abigail to Mercy Otis Warren reminds us how cold a colonial home could be. "My hands freaze by the fire."
Thank you to our members who stopped by for tea and a visit yesterday at our Members Only Open House. We are grateful for your continued support of this important and historic home. #RememberAbigail .
If you're in the area, stop in for a visit. One of the AAHS Board members works here.
Located in Boston's Back Bay, The Gibson House offers a rare opportunity to view four floors of a tasteful yet ornate townhouse with black-walnut woodwork, elegant wallpapers, imported carpets, and an abundance of furniture, paintings, sculpture, photographs, silver, porcelain, curios, and much more.
Our Weymouth 400 Committee is busy!
Weymouth 400 president James Clarke said he and Schneider recently visited Weymouth, England to inform the town leaders about the upcoming celebration of the Town of Weymouth MA's founding in 1622.
Paying our respect to President Bush. His wife Barbara was a life long member of the Society.
Since we just celebrated Abigail's birthday with a tea, here is a bit more information.
Tea.
Happy Thanksgiving from our friends at National Parks.
Proclamation Proclaiming a Fast Day, by President John Adams, 23 March 1798
"I recommend, that on the said day, the Duties of Humiliation and Prayer be accompanied by fervent Thanksgiving to the Bestower of every Good Gift, not only for having hitherto protected and preserved the People of these United States in the independent Enjoyment of their Religious and Civil Freedom, but also for having prospered them in a wonderful progress of Population, and for conferring on them many and great Favours conducive to the Happiness and Prosperity of a Nation."
Abigail Adams Historical Society
Friday November 16, 2018: Abigail Adams Birthplace hosted 10 senior girls from The Brookewood School in Kensington Maryland who were touring Boston and made a special visit to the birthplace. They studied one of Abigail's letters as they drank hot cocoa and heard about her life and legacy. Cheers to our young women who were so interested in Abigail Adams.
Abigail Adams Historical Society meeting last Thursday night as winter announced its coming....
ON THIS DAY: Women's suffrage advocate Susan B. Anthony votes illegally
The year was 1872, which is nearly 50 years before women had the legal right to vote. Because of this, Anthony, a popular women's suffrage advocate, was arrested, released, and fined $100.
Today, October 28, marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Abigail Smith Adams. This will be the year of the Life and Legacy of Abigail Adams. #Rememberabigail
Thank you to all the visitors who came for tours and to press apples for cider. A great time was had by all. Always grateful to Board member and professor Dr. Chris Hannan for his talks about colonial beverages.
Celebrating women.
"even as the show celebrates the power of these women, it also mourns all the talents that went unrecognised"
The Financial Times review of our Women Artists in Paris show is in...take a read!
https://www.ft.com/content/9c2b27aa-8ff1-11e8-9609-3d3b945e78cf
From our friends at the Weymouth News.
Bob Reinhalter one of the many wonderful volunteers of the Abigail Adams Historical Society. RIP Bob.
With heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Mayor Bob Hedlund for the new sign!
SHE DID ALL That - Betty Ford: Speaking Out, Saving Lives
Nothing is more exciting than when the marquee goes up on your new production. Get your tickets now - opening night is almost sold out and the rest are going fast!
Birch Tree Productions #SHEDIDALLTHAT Boston Playwrights' Theatre
Click Shop Now or link in comments.
Photo courtesy of cast member Evie Holley. Paula Plum Richard Snee Robin Abrahams Erin Eva Butcher Srin Chakravorty Dave Daly Kennedy Elsey Gabriel Graetz Tom Grenon Amie Gem Lytle Jared Reinfeldt Kimberly Mae Waller Allison Grace Davis Patricia Barry Altomare Maggie Kearnan Brianna Plummer Daisy Long
180 Norton St
Weymouth, MA
02191
The Birthplace of Abigail Smith Adams was built in 1685 for the Reverend Samuel Torrey, minister of The First Church in Weymouth. The original location was at the corner of North and East Streets, three hundred feet to the southeast of its present location. In 1738, the “Torrey Mansion” as it was known, was bought by Reverend William Smith, minister of The First Church, where he and his wife later lived all of their married life. Abigail Smith was born in the house on November 11, 1744 the second of four children born, where she resided the first 20 years of her life until she married John Adams in 1764. Abigail was a frequent visitor to the house after her marriage. In 1826 The First Church bought the birthplace for its first owned parsonage, but in 1838 found that it was so dilapidated that its members voted to build a new home on the same site. With the exception of the 1685 section, the house was torn down; some of the lumber was salvaged and used in new parsonage. The original gambrel-roofed house was sold to a local farmer, Nathaniel Ford, who towed it by oxen to his farm on Bridge Street, and used it to house farm workers. In 1947 the land and the building was acquired by the federal government to build federal housing. All of the farm’s buildings were marked for demolition. A few Weymouth residents, aware of the historic value of the birthplace, began strenuous efforts to save it. A citizen’s group was incorporated (AAHS) and the building was moved. On May 1, 1947, the Town of Weymouth released a lot of land at North and Norton Streets for the sum of one dollar. In October 1947 the old house, sawed in half, was moved to its new site on a new foundation, skillfully joined so that no trace appears in the house today. The Birthplace was stripped to the frame to restore it, as recommended by architectural historian Frank Chouteau Brown. The furnishings and articles of daily living seen in the house date to the period of Abigail’s residence and serve to illustrate what life was like in the mid-eighteenth century. Today, extensive restoration has confirmed the 17th century age and has preserved the unique structure for the future.
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Great behind-the -scenes tours this Saturday. A wonderful way to appreciate all the care and work that has gone into preserving the 332 year old house and memory of Abigail Adams. Many thanks to Walter Beebe-Center for a fantastic program.
Church of the Presidents, Wreath Laying in honor of John Adams
Getting excited for a behind the scenes tour of the Birthplace, reconstructed at its present site 70 years ago and restored fully 4 years ago. Have a tour with the man who led the preservation!
The Abigail Adams Historical Society annual apple cider pressing was a smashing success! We had a wonderful day and many interested visitors. Thanks to all who visited and to all who helped to create this special day.
Abigail Adams Historical Society thanks Nicholas Ryan from Catholic Memorial High School for a wonderful fall clean-up, Saturday, September 2, 2017. Nicholas who has been mowing the lawn and maintaining the grounds throughout the summer organized a big Fall clean-up that removed more than 20 lawn waste bags of leaves and other material. Huge thanks to Lowes Weymouth for donating bags, mulch, gloves and leave rakes for the clean-up! Our heartfelt thanks go out to Nicholas for the work and organization and Lowes for being a great community builder. Please thank them for us when you next visit.
Lucille Hayes toured the birthplace and made many new friends among the students at St. Jerome School.
Lucille Webb Hayes, 19th first lady of the United States, as wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, visits Abigail Adams and sites in Weymouth. "Lemonade Lucy" visited St. Jerome School and Great Hill, the site visited by William Howard Taft almost 100 years ago in 1922 for Weymouth's 300th celebration. She loved the view of Boston!
Recessing the wreath to the crypt.
The 250th wedding reenactment final blessing...
The wedding reenactment of John and Abigail Adams...
Happy Day for AAHS!
A Weymouth girl congratulates Abigail and John.
From one Weymouth couple to another.
Four Weymouth girls congratulation Abigail and John!
Congratulations from the Birthplace itself
St. Jerome's School 5th Grade, Weymouth, Massachusetts offers a hearty congrats to Abigail and John.
St. Jerome's School 8th grade, Weymouth Massachusetts, Abigail's home town, offers its congratulations to John and Abigail.
St. Jerome's School
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