Adam, R. B. (Robert Borthwick), 1863-1940

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1863
Death 1940

Biographical notes:

Robert Borthwick Adam was born in England in 1863, son of John Scott and Jean (Adam) Scott. In 1872, he was brought to Buffalo, N.Y, and adopted by his uncle, Robert Borthwick Adam (1833-1904), a prosperous department store owner. He assumed his uncle's name and eventually inherited the department store, as well as a substantial collection of English rare books and literary manuscripts, many of them relating to Samuel Johnson. He built the collection into one of the world's finest, and published a four-volume catalog of his private library.

From the description of Papers, 1846-1948 (inclusive), 1918-1939 (bulk). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612885626

Robert Borthwick Adam was a prominent manuscript collector. He was born in England in 1863 as Robert Borthwick Adam Scott, son of John Scott and Jean (Adam) Scott. In 1872, he was brought to Buffalo, N.Y, and adopted by his uncle, Robert Borthwick Adam (1833-1904), a prosperous department store owner. He assumed his uncle's name and eventually inherited the department store, as well as a substantial collection of British rare books and literary manuscripts, many of them relating to Samuel Johnson. Adam published a four-volume catalog of his private library. By his wife Lena Benjamin Stevens Adam, he had two daughters, Harriet (Adam) (Black) Servis, and Florence (Adam) Conrad; and one son, Robert Borthwick Adam III (1918-1993). Adam died in 1940, and his Johnson collection was sold by his children to Donald and Mary Hyde in 1948.

From the guide to the Papers, 1846-1948 (inclusive), 1918-1939 (bulk)., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

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Subjects:

  • Autographs
  • Book collectors

Occupations:

not available for this record

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)

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