The main importance of Adams was that he was a good educator, editor, and organizer. Many famous historians were trained in the history department he taught.
(1850-1901) American historian and educator. He pioneered the establishment of research and discussion methods in educational institutions. Born April 16, 1850, in Massachusetts, died July 30, 1901, in Amherst. After graduating from Philips Academy in LS68, he entered Amherst College, continuing his first-year journalism classes, and after writing articles for some newspapers, realizing that he was more interested in history, he continued his education in history. After graduating from school, he worked as a lecturer for one year. He went to Germany in 1874. He followed lectures at the universities of Göttingen, Berlin, and Heidelberg, and in 1876 received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Heidelberg. Returning to the USA, he became a faculty member at the newly founded Johns Hopkins University, where he remained until his death. He became an associate professor of history in a short time, and later a professor.
Johns Hopkins University favored a research-oriented, “seminar-type” method of teaching. Adams pioneered the establishment of seminar-type training that would later be widely used in the United States. He made an effort to make history an independent section rather than a branch of literature. The Johns Hopkins University Department of History became the most advanced history department in American universities during his time.
As a historian, Adams specialized in the local political and administrative institutions of America during the British colonial period. He tried to show that these institutions were inspired by ancient Anglo-Saxon examples. This approach is called "germ theory" in American political thought.
The relationship between the church and the state was also one of the issues he focused on. The main importance of Adams was that he was a good educator, editor, and organizer. Many famous historians were trained in the history department he taught. In 1882, he began publishing the journal of history and politics, Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science. This journal, which he edited for eighteen years, gave university students the opportunity to publish their research. Many articles by Adams on the history of American education appeared in the magazine.
In 1884, he became Secretary General of the American Historical Association, which he helped found. He remained in this position until he was forced to leave in 1900 due to ill health and became the driving force of the institution. His only published book is his work on the biography of the American historian Jared Sparks.