The Adams papers consist primarily of letters received and the replies made to them. During his absence in Washington Adams maintained a close correspondence with Governor Hoard, E. W. Keyes, Grant Thomas, Henry Casson, and many others. His own letters indicate a ready command of the English language and a keen sense of humor that no doubt account in part for his popularity. His political credo may be found in one of the many addresses of the collection, “The Insurgents,” delivered before the Wisconsin Club of New York City in February, 1906.
There is little manuscript material in the collection for the years before 1902. A few letters dated 1896 give glimpses of Mark A. Hanna's preliminary skirmishes in the McKinley campaign and of local conflicts within the Republican ranks. As indicated in the biographical sketch above, Adams was deeply absorbed during these years in the promotion of the dairy industry. Besides carrying on his official duties, he was instrumental in effecting the passage of two acts, the Wisconsin anti-filled cheese law and the Federal Grout bill which placed a heavy tax on oleomargarine.
Most of the collection's contents concern the topics detailed in the biographical notes above. There is no manuscript material on the Meat Inspection bill.
