Events & Classes > Collins Gallery > John Adams Unbound
John Adams Unbound
Location, time
- Collins Gallery
- 3rd Floor, Central Library
- 801 S.W. 10th Avenue
- Portland, OR
- June 23–August 6, 2010
- Monday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Tuesday & Wednesday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Thursday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sunday: noon–5 p.m.
Printable John Adams Unbound flyer (pdf)
About the exhibit
Believing that an "ample and well chosen Assortment of Books" could serve both intellectual and political purposes, President John Adams (1735-1826) assembled one of the greatest private libraries in early America. The traveling exhibition is based upon the gallery exhibition of the same name mounted by the Boston Public Library in 2006, the first public display of Adams's complete 3,500-book collection. The John Adams Library has been on deposit at the Boston Public Library since 1894.
The Branford P. Millar Library Special Collections at Portland State University will be displaying a companion exhibit between June 22–August 17, 2010. American Imprints from the Lifetime of John Adams (1735-1826) features selected monographs published and circulated in the United States during the lifetime of John Adams. It will include historical examples of original bindings and printing as well as highlight the political and social issues that informed and influenced Adams' career and family life.
Learn more about John Adams and his times
Related events
Opening Reception
- Sunday, June 27, 1–3:30 p.m.
- Central Library, start off in the U.S. Bank Room and end in the Collins Gallery
Join us for refreshments, music and a bit of American history. William C. Stack, educator and historian, will share opening remarks about John Adams and the exhibit, followed by music from the time of John Adams, performed by the Ensemble De Organographia.
Gayle and Philip Neuman, along with Hideki Yamaya, will be performing American music from the late 18th and early 19th centuries on a variety of period instruments and voice. Music by John Hewitt, William Billings, Edward Riley, and others will be performed on flageolets, czakan (walking stick recorder), early guitar, sausage bassoon, serpent, violin, and viola. Included will be "Adams and Liberty", "New Yankee Doodle", "Celebration March", pieces from the "Czakan Schule", "Chester", and many others.
Of the People or for the People: Getting the Government We Deserve
- Saturday, June 26, 2–3 p.m.
- Central Library, U.S. Bank Room
Do the failures of modern governance and politics have more to do with a crisis of leadership or a crisis of citizenship? What can we as citizens do to improve the political discourse and the quality of public life?
This is the focus of "Of the People or for the People: Getting the Government We Deserve,” a free conversation with Jeff Golden, former host of Jefferson Public Radio’s Jefferson Exchange.
Jeff Golden has served as a public broadcasting producer, columnist, radio talk show host, and commentator. He is a former Jackson County commissioner, chief of staff to the Oregon Senate president, and environmental policy aide to the City of Portland. Golden is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a media fellow of the Property and Environment Research Center.
Sponsored by Oregon Humanities (formerly Oregon Council for the Humanities). Presented in cooperation with City Club of Portland, Agora Steering Committee.
Paper Crafts for All Ages with Colleen Cavin
- Sundays, July 18–August 1, 2010, 1–4 p.m.
- Central Library, U.S. Bank Room
Have some papercrafting fun this summer — and learn a little bit of history, too! Colleen Cavin is a fifth generation Oregonian. She studied calligraphy and book binding in Portland and then armed with a BA in art history and a Fulbright scholarship, she went to England to hone those skills. In 2003 she was elected a Fellow into the prestigious London–based Society of Scribes and Illuminators. She teaches calligraphy and book binding (and their respective histories) in the Portland area.
Paper Marbling
Sunday, July 18, 2010, 1–4 p.m.
Decorated papers were used in book making at the time for the endsheets and fly leaves of books. They were either marbled or were paste papers. We will make marbled papers, floating watercolor pigments on the surface of water and,laying a piece of paper on top of that, transferring the pattern to the paper. Each participant will be able to make a maximum or three marbled papers to take away.
Printmaking
Sunday, July 25, 2010, 1–4 p.m.
Of course, everything was manually printed on presses those days...books, daily papers, broadsides and "bills" (you know those signs that said post no bills here? they were about adverts), even "wanted" posters. The purpose of printing was to make multiple copies. In this workshop, we will draw into art foam to make our printing plates from which to pull our prints. Each person will take away a number of prints made from their one printing plate
Simple Book Making
Sunday, August 1, 2010, 1–4 p.m.
John Adams had a great library, as did Thomas Jefferson and other prominent people of the time. The books were handbound, from the book binder in the village or town or city. In this workshop, we will make two types of books...a sewn pamphlet–style and a concertina–style book.
John Adams Unbound has been organized by the Boston Public Library and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. This traveling exhibition has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life.
Local support is provided by the Friends of History at Portland State University, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Portland Chapter, Branford P. Millar Library at Portland State University and The Oregon Historical Society.
