Papers of John Adams, Volume 13, 1 May - 26 October 1782 (Adams Papers)

The Adams Papers project was initiated by the Massachusetts Historical Society in the 1950s to curate and publish the extensive correspondence and writings of the Adams family, providing an unparalleled primary source for early American political history. Volume 13 specifically documents a pivotal six-month window in 1782, capturing John Adams's diplomatic efforts in the Netherlands during the American Revolutionary War. It offers scholarly insight into his navigation of European politics as he sought recognition and financial support for the fledgling United States.

Edited by Hobson Woodward and released by the Belknap Press of Harvard University Press in 2006, this volume continues the editorial standard of the series, which emphasizes historical accuracy through meticulous transcription and contextual annotation. The publication serves as an essential resource for historians and researchers, receiving praise for its rigorous editorial methodology and for preserving the intimate, often candid, bureaucratic and personal reflections of one of America's founding figures.