Mary was born on October 17, 1837, in Peru, Indiana, United States, to abolitionist missionaries Mary Ann Sergeant and Samuel Newbury. She spent her early childhood living in a log cabin in the wilderness with Native peoples as neighbors and visitors.
Mary received her early education from her mother. Upon moving to Cleveland, Ohio, United States she entered the classes of the prominent educator Emerson E. White. At age of 18, she graduated from the Emma Willard Seminary in Troy, New York, United States.
Mary and Austin, her spouse, were lifelong students of science, history, philosophy, poetry, and the progressive ideas of the time. Mary believed, that the advancement of women required education. Mary Newbury Adams was instrumental in establishing the Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Association for the Advancement of Women. She had her eyes and ears open for opportunities to advance progressive ideas and laws, including those that would promote equal access to education. Her first study club, the Conversational Club of Dubuque, was established in 1868.
Mary Adams had attended arranged conversations in the home of her sister, who was married to Governor John J. Bagley of Michigan. Those club meetings were held in the parlors of the members because most women had duties to home and children. The topics, prepared in advance, included education, local progress, political science and economy, mental and moral philosophy, the fine arts, political revolutions, belles lettres, ecclesiastical history, natural philosophy, and physical sciences. That same year the Grinnell Ladies Literary Society invited Adams to lecture at Iowa, later Grinnell, College during commencement-week exercises, but the faculty thought that it would be inappropriate for a woman to speak. After hearing Elizabeth Cady Stanton lecture, in 1869, Adams became active in the women’s suffrage movement as a speaker and organizer of state, regional, and national meetings.
Mary was chosen to be the corresponding secretary and fulfilled her role by carrying on correspondence with women and women’s groups in Iowa, United States and other states. Her local efforts joined with those of nationally known suffragists such as Amelia Bloomer, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone. In 1870 and 1874 the Adamses hosted A. Bronson Alcott, who considered Mary Newbury Adams “the representative woman of the West” and a prophetess or “Sibyl.” In 1872 she visited him in the East and in later years and maintained correspondence with the Alcotts about both mundane and philosophical matters. As an active member of the Transcendentalist movement, Mary Newbury Adams traveled and lectured on reform topics, including human potential and woman suffrage. In her later years she explored theosophy, a blend of spirituality, science, and philosophy.
Mary died of cancer in 1901 in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. At her funeral, the minister took special notice of the Bible that was given to Adams by her father, and on the inside cover Adams had acknowledged the names of all the important women in both the Testaments.
In 1893 Mary was chair of the Historical Committee of the Columbian Exposition.
Historical Committee of the Columbian Exposition , United States
Mary was a founding member of the Northern Iowa Woman Suffrage Association.
Northern Iowa Woman Suffrage Association , United States
Anthropological Society
National Science Association
American Historical Association
At the age of 19, Mary married Austin Adams. They had four children, Annabel, Eugene, Herbart, Cecilia.
Samuel was a supporter of co-education for men and women.
Mary and Austin Adam relocated to Dubuque, Iowa, United States, where Austin became a judge. He was eventually elected to the Iowa Supreme Court, and became a chief justice.
Annabel was born in 1858.
Eugene was born in 1861.
Herbart was born in 1863.
Cecilia was born in 1865.
