Fred Adams papers

The heart of the Fred L. Adams papers document the experiences and life-style of an Ohio State Senator from the mid 1930's through the early 1970's. Extensive newsclippings and correspondence concerning political legislation, elections, and activities of the Republican Party make up the bulk of the collection. In addition to that core are letters, scrapbooks, newsclippings, printed material, and photographs which offer an intimate view of Adams' personal life, his political activities, concerns, and interests.

Although there is a small part of this collection which concerns itself with World War I newspapers and correspondence, one may note the general scarcity of materials relating to Adams' life before his political career. This may be seen as a weakness of the collection. Clearly, one who wishes to investigate the growth and development of the life of Adams must supplement this collection with other materials.

CORRESPONDENCE - POLITICAL. 1939-1956. Arranged chronologically. Primarily incoming general correspondence, including notes of congratulations, comments on legislation, notification of committee appointments, and a series of get-well messages during an illness in 1951.

CORRESPONDENCE - PERSONAL. 1942-1947. Arranged chronologically. Limited incoming correspondence, including postal cards related to World War II rations and volunteer status, a request for a personal job reference letter, and a memorial card.

ANTI-DEMOCRATIC PARTY/NEW DEAL MATERIAL. 1934, undated. Flyers, handbills, clippings, and mimeographed sheets critical of Democratic Party political policy and the New Deal.

ARMISTICE DAY MATERIAL. 1939-1941. Arranged chronologically. Material for speakers, prepared by the American Legion, with a handwritten speech from 1941.

AVIATION CLINIC AT B.G.S.U. 1946-1949. Arranged chronologically. Proceedings, programs, photograph, and newsclippings relating to the Aviation Clinics held at Bowling Green.

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS. 1934-1954, undated. Arranged chronologically. Flyers, press releases, campaign handbooks, endorsement resolutions, and position statements from Adams' State Senate campaigns and his unsuccessful 1952 5th Congressional District campaign.

HONORARY DEGREE: B.G.S.U. 1945-1946. Correspondence, programs, photograph, newsclippings, and degree certificate for honorary Ph.D. in Political Science awarded in June 1946.

OHIO CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION. 1934, 1943-1950. Arranged chronologically. Policy papers, pamphlets, and reports related to the issues of revision of the Ohio State Constitution.

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. 1936, 1940, 1944. Arranged chronologically. Admittance passes, credentials, clippings, notes, and program from the Republican Party National Convention in Philadelphia, where Adams served as Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, in charge of press; and from the Chicago Convention. Program book from 1936 Cleveland Convention in oversize box.

RESERVE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF THE U.S. WOOD COUNTY CHAPTER. 1931-1933. Arranged chronologically. Wood County Chapter charter, membership cards, forms, and dues sheets.

SANDUSKY BAY FISHING. 1938, 1949-1951. Arranged chronologically. Correspondence, reports, petitions, and clippings related to legislation aimed at closing Sandusky Bay to commercial fishing.

UNIVERSITY TOURS. 1939, 1941. Arranged chronologically. Ohio State University sponsored inspection tours. Photo scrapbooks and itineraries of 1939 tour to University of Illinois and Michigan, and 1941 tour of University of Illinois and Wisconsin.

WORLD WAR I MATERIAL. 1917-1977, undated. Arranged chronologically. Includes an overnight pass from Camp Mills, N.Y.; an embarkation list with names, ranks, and next of kin for members of the 163rd Field Hospital; a list of station assignments for the 163rd from 1917 through 1918 in Europe; and a series of annual letters of the 163rd veterans organization.

SPEECHES/INTERVIEWS/NOTES - FRED ADAMS. 1935-1951, undated. Typed speeches, handwritten notes and drafts, and interview transcripts.

SPEECHES - MISCELLANEOUS PEOPLE. 1934-1949. Arranged chronologically. Mimeographed copies of addresses by Simeon Fess, C. Emory Glander, and Charles P. Taft.

NEWSCLIPPINGS. 1932-1952, undated. Arranged topically, then chronologically. Photocopies of newsclippings on Adams' term as Clerk of Courts, election campaigns, Ohio politics, Bowling Green, and personal clippings.

CERTIFICATES. 1921, 1930-1942. Arranged chronologically. Certificates of appointment for the Military Training Camps Association in Wood County, nomination certificates as candidate for Clerk of Clourts and State Senate, and certificate of membership of Bess Brisbie Adams in Wood County Civil Defense. Bess Adams' high school teaching certificate in oversize box.

PROGRAMS. 1939-1971 (scattered). Arranged chronologically. Programs from various dinners, conventions, political events, and commencements.

INVITATIONS. 1939-1943, undated. Arranged chronologically. Formal invitations to political receptions, inauguration events, and political programs.

OHIO POST-WAR COMMISSION PUBLICATIONS. 1947-1948. Arranged chronologically. Biennial report and a copy of a speech Adams presented before the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. Adams served on the Lake Erie Beach Erosion Committee and was chairman of the Aviation Committee.

OHIO PROGRAM COMMISSION PUBLICATIONS. 1950-1952. Topical and biennial reports of the Commission, on which Adams served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Highway Investigating Committee, and was chairman of the Civil Defense Committee.

POSITIVE PRINTS. 1880-1974, undated. Arranged topically, then chronologically. Family scenes; school, political, and army group pictures, a Souvenir of Prairie Depot (Wayne), political activities, and views of the ruins of the Lincoln Building, Bowling Green, Ohio, after being hit by a truck on August 4, 1944. Some photographs located with oversize materials.

NEGATIVES. 1880-1945, undated. Copy negatives of selected prints in the collection.

ACADEMIC REGALIA. 1946. Hood for honorary Ph.D. in Political Science from Bowling Green State University.