Quick Facts
Biography
Adeline Valentine Pond Adams (1859–1948) was an American writer and the wife of Herbert Adams. The chief subjects of her writings were American fine artists and art history. She published at least seven texts. On December 14, 1930, she was awarded a Special Medal of Honor by the National Sculpture Society.
Life
Adams was born in Boston. She began her art studies at the Massachusetts Normal Art School in 1880.
Adeline Pond and Herbert Adams met in Paris in 1887. Adeline posed for a marble bust that was eventually exhibited at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The couple married in 1889.
Adams was a member of the Cornish (NH) Equal Suffrage League.
Works
Adams's seven published texts include: "The spirit of American sculpture," "Daniel Chester French, sculptor," "Childe Hassam," "John Quincy Adams Ward; An Appreciation," "Sylvia," "An Exhibition of American Sculpture," and "Our medals and Our Medals".
Adams advocated for female sculptors including Laura Gardin Fraser, Evelyn Beatrice Longman, Janet Scudder, Bessie Porter Vonnoh, Abastenia St. Leger Eberle and Anna Hyatt Huntington.
Adams also advocated for war memorials to be created by professional sculptors rather than mass produced in factories.
In addition to art criticism, Adams also wrote poetry. She wrote two collections of poetry about her deceased daughters.