Barbara C. Adams

Barbara Charlton Adams of Meadville, PA and Hyannis Port, MA, died on August 2, 2023 after a brief illness.

Born to Robert Norman and Lillian Charlton in Toronto, Ontario on April 8, 1935, Barbara was raised in Boston. She started her primary education at the Boston Girl’s Latin School and completed it at the West Roxbury High School graduating in 1953. During her high school years, Barbara studied ballet at the Alicia Langford School of Ballet, a professional ballet school directed by Edwin Binney.

Barbara attended Brown University (Pembroke College), graduating in 1957 with a degree in English. At Brown she wrote dance and music reviews for the school paper and formed many lifelong friendships.

After graduation, Barbara enjoyed a period of international travel with her dear friend and fellow Brown alumna, Barbara S. Tessmer.

Barbara studied library sciences in New York and Boston and was a librarian at MIT’s Dewey Library specializing in Economics, Industrial Relations and Management where she met her future husband, Earl Adams, Jr., a Ph.D candidate at MIT. They were married in Boston on August 4, 1964.

Barbara and Earl subsequently moved from Amherst to Pittsburgh ending up in Meadville, where Earl became the Andrew Wells Robertson Professor of Economics at Allegheny College.

An avid reader, proud feminist and devoted balletomane, Barbara was also a certified indexer and trained editor. Throughout her life she belonged to numerous book groups and clubs. Barbara was also a devoted patron and financial supporter of the Meadville and Hyannis Public Libraries.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Earl, Jr. and two sons, Earl, III of New York City and Nicholas of Pittsburgh, PA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Meadville Public Library: https://meadvillelibrary.org/give or the Hyannis Public Library: https://hyannislibrary.org/make-a-donation/

Arrangements are under the direction of STEPHEN P. MIZNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 404 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE.

Share a memory or condolence at www.miznerfuneralhome.com