Welcome. Im the director of the athenaeum and im delighted to welcome you to this, the third and final program in our wonderful collaboration with the poets theater. If you missed the earlier presentations, you will find. Ideos of those on our website at this point, it would be a perfect time to silence any noisemaking devices you might have with you. Just a note, there are illuminated signs that will lead you to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency. David is the playwright of this evenings performance. Professor emeritus of english at Simmons College and literary director of the poets theater, hes appeared in productions with the actors shakespeare project, the Harvard Center for the arts, the Repertory Theater committee drama club my National Public radio and many others. He holds a phd from the university of north carolina. Consumer of astute the rare materials in our library from all of which are available for anybody to see upon request. Think about inspiration you might take from this evening. Tonight, the actors will bring to light the literary legacy of one of americas founding families. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to david and the poets theater. [applause] it is a great pleasure for the poets theater to return to the athenaeum to conclude our Spring Season as Theater Company residents. Some of you have seen our poets and their predecessors in january. Others will have seen our boston abolitionist program in march. This afternoon, we bring you the voices and some dramatic stories of four generations of the adams family. Our show tonight runs about an hour and 15 minutes. Ive been asked by the assisting to announce something happening saturday at suffolk university. One nation indeterminable. It is five new place that have been written to confront the Current Situation that none of us can take our minds off. [laughter] one is by robert rubinstein. Another by james carroll. Poetstheater. Org. You will find all the information you need. I hope you get a chance to see one nation and determinable. One nation indeterminable. Upon the rich collection of books in this building. Language is to unearth wherever we can find it and perform it in a dramatic framework with professional actors who can make the words saying. Its been a privilege to expand our work in this Noble Building so full of great books and fine arts. We must thank our talented colleagues here for making these shows possible. The Museum Director mother director of education Museum Director, director of education and many others. We should point out that the room we are in at the moment is ,he sort of adams gallery including a bust of john adams, an oil portrait of john adams , a bust of John Quincy Adams and a bust of Charles Francis adams. These are all in the back corner there stage right house left. Take a while to appreciate the skill of these artists and in particular how much our fellow actor resembles Charles Francis adams. [laughter] it is quite uncanny. Charles Francis Adams was for a wild Vice President and then president of the boston athenaeum. Proprietorhad been a or shareholder. Wife was also a proprietor. The athenaeum and the adams family fit hand in glove. Manning grew up in dublin and was a childhood friend of another hero of hours. She worked with William Butler yates, who built bridges between poetry and drama at the abbey theatre. In 1930, molly came to cambridge, where she married a law professor. In the 1950s, helped found the poets theater. The first flowering of which survived into the mid1960s. She was known by molly howell. After professor howells death, she married samuel adams. She was our regardin guiding li. Manning, mollyry presentmolly adams, we four generations of the adams family. [applause] to begin at the beginning of our overview or eavesdropping on, four great generations of the adams clan of massachusetts, we must begin with a 1200 or so letters between the founding mother, abigail, and founding father, john. The first thing that strikes us is how many weeks, months, even years these two spent apart. From the marriage in 1764 to legalart of john adams career to the end of his term as president. , helping philadelphia to heard 13 rambunctious colonies into an unity to declare their independence from Great Britain. Braintrees in north tending the family farm, looking after the children and paying close attention to the increasingly warlike incursions of British Forces in massachusetts. And the preparations of local folks to resist them. Lets begin with abigail in the early years of their marriage. Johnny will become the sixth president of the United States. September 1767, my dearest tender i know from the affection you bear me and our little ones that you will rejoice to hear that we are well , our son is much better than when you left home and our daughter is asleep with the song of come public, come home to brother johnny. Day tos a more lonesome you afforded us your benign influence. My father brought me here last night. Tomorrow, i return home, where i hope soon to receive the dearest of friends and tenderness of hugs with that unabated affection which has for years vitalnd will while the spark lasts burn in the bosom of ms. R affectionate, a. Ada , dearest 1774 madeiras f end, i had rather give the consequence be that i eat one meal a day for these three weeks to come. When did i hear . My intelligence is collected from the newspaper and i can only reply that you arrived such i know your fondness for writing and your inclination to let me hear from you by the first conveyance which makes me that i hope some you have arrived in philadelphia. You will convey me some intelligence. In Early September of 1774, british soldiers made a raid on a storage site and removed all the gunpowder. The nervous colonists immediately began to remove all the powder they had access to and quietly distributed it to various militias and patriots. This event was known as the powder alarm. Abigail wrote about it to john. The governor she refers to is the probritish official appointed by the crown. The governor is making all kinds of warlike preparations. Such as mounting cannon up on beacon hill, digging entrenchments up on the back, placing cannon here and camping a regiment there. The people are much alarmed and the select men have waited upon him in consequence of it. In consequence of the powder , ang taken from charleston general alarm spread through many towns and was caught soon here. Onports here on friday sunday, a soldier was seen lurking about the comments. Supposed to be a spy, but most likely a deserter intelligence of it was communicated to the other parishes and about 8 00 is in the evening, there passed by here about 200 men preceded by a horse cart and marched down to the powder house from whence they took the powder and carried it to the other parish and their secreted it. I opened the window upon the return. They passed without any noise, not a word among them. Me, askedem preceded me if i wanted any powder. , as it was in such good hands. The reason they gave for taking it was that we had so many tories here, they dare not trust us with it. How warm your climate may be i know not, but i have to have my desk warm these two nights. Procure me some watermelon seeds and musk melon as i determined to be wellstocked with the next year. You will burn all these letters lest they should fall from your pocket and thus expose you are friend, a. Ionate adams. Philadelphia, september 14, 1774. My dear, i have written but once to you since i left you. To causes be imputed i cannot explain for ones time. It would fill volumes to give you an exact idea of the whole tour. My time is totally filled from the moment i get out of bed until i return to it. Visits, ceremonies, companies, business, newspapers, templates and so on. The congress will be well united. I hope willasures give satisfaction to the friends of our country. A tory here is the most despicable animal in the creation. Snakes are there only proper emblems. The massachusetts counselors and aggressors are held in curious esteem here. As you will see, the spirit, the firmness, the prudence of our province of massachusetts are vastly applauded and we are universally acknowledged as saviors and defenders of american liberty. The design and plans of the Congress Must not be communicated until completed. We shall move with great deliberation. Home atl come present, i dont expect my leave of this city these four weeks. My compliments, love, service where they are due. My babes are never out of my mind, nor absent from my heart. John adams. Philadelphia, september 18, 1774. My dear, i received a very agreeable letter and have received to others which gave me much pleasure. I have wrote several letters. Whether they have reached you i know not. Theres so much ross kelly rascality that im determined to write nothing of consequence. Except by conveyances which i can be sure of. The Esteem Committee affection, the admiration for the people of boston and massachusetts which were expressed yesterday that supportedshould be were enough to melt the heart of stone. I saw tears gushed into the eyes of the old, gray quakers of pennsylvania. Theres no idea of submission here in anybody. Do entreat every friend i have to write me. Every line which comes from our friends is greatly acquired after and our letters are a great service. Thank nabbie for her letter. Kiss all my sweet ones for me. John adams. Boston garrison to miss up to 22, 1774. Septembergarrison, 22nd, 1774. To see this much injured cow that i view it with much the same sensations that i should the body of a friend. Only put off its present glory for to finally rise to a more happy state. But donot despair believe that our cause being good, we shall finally prevail. The maxim in time of peace prepare for war, if this can be called a time of peace, resound through out the country. Next tuesday, they are warned at braintree, all above 15 and under 60 which will attend aut arms and train scheme which lays much at heart. There were still some slaves in massachusetts in 1774. Some of them saw a moment of opportunity. A squabble between nests between colonists there has been in town a conspiracy of the negroes. It was discovered by one who endeavors to dissuade them from it. Irishman to draw a petition to the governor telling him they would fight for him provided they arm him and liberate them. There is but little said and what states they will take in consequence of it i know not. Sincerely there was not a slave in the province. It always appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me, fight ourselves for what we are plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have. You know my mind on this subject. I long for the day of your return, yet look upon you as being much safer where you are. My father hurries me. Yours most sincerely, Abigail Adams. John adams himself always detested slavery. In a letter to his friend in his later life, he spelled it out. That there interpreted some of the inhumanity, the cruelty and the infamy of the african commerce of slaves so impressively represented to the public by the highest powers of eloquence but nothing i can say would increase the just odium in which it is and ought to be held. I have through my whole life held the practice of slavery in avenuepoor and such torrance that i have never owned a negro or any other slave. Rrence that i have never owned a negro or any other slave. Profit not inconsistent with their character. ,hiladelphia, september 25 1734. My dear come i would not lose the opportunity of writing to you, though i must be short. Tedious indeed is our business. We sit only before dinner, we dine at 4 00. We are crowded in the evening. 50 gentlemen meeting together, all strangers, are not acquainted with each others language and ideas, views or designs. They are therefore jealous of each other. Fearful, timid, skittish. 29,adelphia, september 1774. My dear, i shall be killed with kindness in this we go to congress at 9 00 and there we stay engaged on the debates until 3 00 in the afternoon. Then we adjourned. We go to dinner with some of the nobles of pennsylvania at 4 00 and feast upon 10,000 delicacies burgundy untilg 6 00 or 7 00 and then go home. Company and care. October 7, 1774. My dear, i have advised you before to remove my office from boston to braintree. It is now absolutely necessary. Let the best care be taken of all books and papers. I long to behold but i cannot say when that i will never leave the congress until it rises. When it will rise, i cannot say. Oftenming quaker girl god blesskindly and you and yours. Which is an praise without ceasing what john adams wishes and praise without ceasing, john adams. , i darech loved friend not express to you at 300 miles difference how ardently i long for your return. I have some very miserly wishes and cannot confess to you spending one hour in town until i have had you at least 12. Idea of nerves my hand while i write and awakens all the tender sentiments that you have increased and matured. They were every day dispensing to you. The whole collective stock of 12 weeks absence knows not how to will break forth and flow like my pen. Your most affectionate, Abigail Adams. On april 18 of 70 to five, the events of lexington and concord changed everything. On bothd been shed sides of the conflict and the rebel colonists began more serious preparations for war against england. Abigail begins to sign her , alluding torsche porsche and julius caesar. Hartford, may 2, 1775. My dear, our hearts are bleeding for the old people of boston. What will or can be done for them i cannot foresee. Godserve them preserve them. Surrounded as you are by people manytoo susceptible fears and jealousies and imaginary dangers will be suggested to you. I hope you will not be impressed by them. Take a real danger of which you cannot fail to have as previous intimations fly to the woods with our children. Give my tenderest love to them and to all. Braintree, may 2, 7035. I received by the deacon to letters from you this day by hartford. The distresses of the inhabitants of boston are beyond the power of language to describe. There are but very few who are permitted to come out during the day. Hour t from hour to write me every opportunity, everything that transpires. Porsche. New york, may 8, 1775. I had an opportunity to write you a line. We all arrived last night in this city. It would take many sheets of paper to give you a description of the reception we found here. The militia were all in arms and almost the whole city out to meet us. They have associated to spend by continental and conventional congress that such a spirit was never before seen in new york. The union of the colonies promising indeed. Yet, i feel anxious because theres always more smoke than fire, more noise than music. Our province is nowhere blamed. The accounts of the battle are exaggerated in our favor. , johnny neddie papa will come home before long. Philadelphia may 29, 1775. His deathck since sends his servant john hancock sends his servant from congress. He is a kind, humane and clever fellow. Supportress will massachusetts. There is a good spirit here. We have an amazing field of business before us. When shall i have a joy of meeting you and the little ones i know not. The military spirit which runs through the continent is truly amazing. This city turns up 2000 men every day. Mr. Dickinson is a kernel a colonel. Colonel washington appears in and is ofn uniform much service. Oh that i was a soldier. I will be. Im reading military books. Everybody must and will and shall be a soldier. John adams. 1775, Abigail Adams and her sevenyearold son, johnny, walked the short distance of their farm to the , were theys hill heard of the canons and observed the smoke and fire at the battle of bunker hill. The flames were consuming charlestown. The children of dr. Joseph physician,eir family had been staying with abigail and her children. Sunday, june 18, 1775, the day perhaps the decisive day has come on which the fate of america depends. Ive justeart heard that our dear friend, dr. Warren, is no more. But fell gloriously fighting for his country, saying better to die honorably than insidiously hang upon the gallas. Great is our loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement by courage and fortitude, leading the soldiers on by his own example. Charlestown is laid in ashes. The battle began upon our trenches upon bunker hill saturday morning about 3 00 and has not ceased yet. It is now 3 00 sabbath afternoon. This expected they will come out a dreadful battle must ensue. Almighty god, cover the heads of our countrymen and be a shield to our dear friends. How many have fallen we know not. The constant roar of the canon is so disrupting but we cannot eat, drink or sleep. I shall stay here until it is thought unsafe for my friends. Your brother has kindly offered me i cannot compose myself to write any further at present. I will add more as i hear further. I am most sincerely yours, 31, 1776. You have declared a independent state. By the way and the new code of laws i suppose it will be necessary for you to make. Beesire that you would and more generous to women than your ancestors. Do not put Unlimited Power in the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not given to a lady we are prevented to form a rebellion and will not hold ourselves found by any law in which we have no voice and representation. That your sex is naturally dispute,l is to know for those of you which wish to be happy give up the title of masturbated master. Thethen not put it out in power of cruelty and dignity. Incensed ofy, men all pages of poor those concepts which treat us as vassals of york sex. Regard us as human beings. Protectionder your and under imitation of the supreme being use that power only for our happiness. Philadelphia, july 3 1776. July, 1776, it will be the most memorable date of history and america. I have asked that it would be celebrated as the great anniversary. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance and acts of devotion to god almighty. With a pop and per rate that bonfireses, sports, and illuminations from one end of the continent to another forevermore. It would transport me with enthusiasm but i am not. Toilsell aware of the that i