Guide to the Adams Family Papers

The Adams family served as missionaries in Korea for two generations. Their work began with James Edward Adams (1867-1929) who was born in McCoy, Decatur County, Indiana. After graduating from Washburn College, Topeka, Kansas in 1888, he attended John Hopkins University for a year and then continued his education at McCormick Theological Seminary. He married Nellie Dick (1866-1909) in 1893 and shortly thereafter was ordained. Nellie Dick was a native of Topeka and had been employed as a secretary for the YWCA. In 1894, the two were appointed by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A to the Korea Mission, where James's sister, Annie Laurie Adams Baird (1864-1916), was already stationed. The Adams conducted evangelistic work at the newly established station of Taiku (Taegu). They had four children: Edward, Benjamin, Dorothy, and George. Nellie died two years after the birth of her last child in 1909. James Adams remarried in 1912 to Caroline M. Babcock (1875-1937), who joined him in his mission work at Taiku. They had two children, Mary and Henry. The Adams continued their mission work until 1921 when they resigned from active membership in the Chosen (Korea) Mission. They were appointed as affiliated members and remained on the field in Korea until 1924. Returning to the United States, the Adams resigned in 1925.

Three of the Adams children returned to Korea as Presbyterian missionaries. Edward Adams (1895-1965) was appointed to the PCUSA Chosen (Korea) Mission in 1920. Before leaving the United States, he married Susan Comstock in 1921. Assigned to Chairyung Station, they arrived on the mission field in December of the same year. After their first furlough, they were transferred to Taiku (Taegu) where Edward Adams evangelized under the special Adams Fund. He was also appointed principal of the Takiu Men's Bible Institute. After World War II, he spent time as Board field representative and chairman of the Mission Executive Commission in Korea. He retired in 1963, after spending five years as President of Keimyung Christian College.

Benjamin Nyce Adams (1898-1994) graduated from Wooster College in 1920 and from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1923. Following his ordination, he married Phyllis Taylor (1898-1973) and they were appointed to the PCUSA Chosen (Korea) Mission in 1923. Assigned to Andong Station, they spent the next several years evangelizing in that area. In 1928, they returned to the United States and resigned from service in 1930.

George J. Adams (1907-?) also became a Presbyterian missionary in Korea in 1932. After graduating from Occidental College in 1929 and San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1932, he was appointed with his wife, Margaret Roberts Adams, to the PCUSA Chosen (Korea) Mission. During their service in Andong and Taejon, George Adams was engaged in evangelistic work and agricultural work projects. From 1959 until their resignation in 1964, the Adams were assigned to the Japan Mission.