On October 30th, 1735, John Adams was born. Adams was our first vice president, our second president, and a writer of the Declaration of Independance. He did not own slaves, and as a lawyer, he defended the British soldiers in court, after the Boston Massacre, in which five colonists died, including the Crispus Attucks, a multi-racial sailor remembered as the first colonist who died in the American Revolution.
In my library I have a presidential section. One unusual book is “John Adams and the American Revolution” by Catherine Drinker Bowen, published in 1950. This is a very interesting read on a very interesting president.
I also have “John Adams”, a two volume set by Page Smith, 1962. This is an exhaustive history of John Adams.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4th, 1826. On July 4th, 1831, James Monroe died. Three of the first five presidents died on the same day of the year. Speaking of deaths…
October 30th is Create a Great Funeral Day. The day is to help making discussing death and funeral arrangments just a little easier. I have a very interesting book on that topic. It is “The Last Act, Being The Funeral Rites of Nations and Individuals” edited by William Tegg, published in 1876. It happens to be a rather rare find, owning an original copy. I also have an original companion book he wrote, (not quite as rare) “The Knot Tied-Marriage Ceremonies of All Nations” published in 1878. (I have used ideas from this book for the several weddings I have officiated.)
This is a frightfully entertaining history of how nations have treated their dead. From Greeks to Romans, to various countries around the world, even different cultures and religions (Christians, Jews, Mohamets, even Gypsies). One learns about how and when buried, specific rites, the whole process. There is a section on catacombs. Lastly, Tegg tells of some famous funerals in history. While this book is over 146 years old, it is a very engaging read.
Sadly, this is also the fourth anniversary of my mother’s passing-October 30th, 2020. Mom would take any trip-do any adventure. I would ask, “Hey Mom, how about we…” “Let’s Go!” she would always reply, without hesitation. We toured obscure museums (like the Button Museum in Muscatine, IO, the Swedish museum and the International Museum of Surgical Science-both in Chicago), and of course big museums.
She loved visiting Presidential homes. She and I also roamed a four state map, tracking down book sales, book stores, and conventions. For five or six years, we went to fossil and rock exhibits and sales, in that same four state grid.
Mom also visited her kids wherever they lived, East coast, West coast-even Japan. How many other grandmothers have climbed Mt Fuji? Mom got around.
Mom was always learning, she never stopped. She wanted to keep up with her kids, her grandkids, and her great grandkids. I think that is why she collected pop-up books. When grandchildren came to visit, they all patiently waited until she gave them permission to go pick out a pop-up from the back room, and bring back to to read. Mom knew what books would interest kids.
Because of Mom, my library is equally as open and inviting for my grandkids. No whispering allowed. I have musical intruments and animal calls always within reach.
Today, I will be changing some flowers. And I think she would be happy with my stories.
Librarytomes 