Papers of John Adams, Volumes 5 and 6, August 1776 - July 1778 (Adams Papers)

The Adams Papers project was initiated by the Massachusetts Historical Society in the 1950s to catalog and publish the extensive personal and political records of the Adams family. Volumes 5 and 6, released in 1983 by the Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, document a critical period of the American Revolutionary War between August 1776 and July 1778. These volumes capture John Adams's service in the Continental Congress, offering an intimate look at the diplomatic and strategic deliberations that defined the early American republic.

The editorial team, led during this era by researchers under the auspices of the Adams Papers editorial staff, aimed to preserve the integrity of the original manuscripts while providing rigorous historical annotations. The series is regarded as a foundational resource for scholars of early American history. By maintaining a standard of meticulous transcription and comprehensive contextual footnotes, these volumes were designed to serve as a definitive, accessible reference for historians, researchers, and those interested in the primary source evidence of the nation's formation.