James E. Adams, Sr. (circa 1872-1955), patriarch of the family represented in this collection, was born in Iowa around 1872. Adams had 2 sisters, Mayme and Valera (or Valeria), and a brother, Roy. James Adams married Grace Hannahs around 1908, and by 1910, they were living in Seattle. The couple had two sons, James E. “Jimmy” Adams, Jr. (1909-1937) and Robert W. “Wayne” Adams (1912-1986). James Sr. and Grace divorced in 1914, and afterward the family lived with James Sr.’s sister Mayme at 1025 Yesler Way in the Seattle’s Central Area. In the mid-1930s, the family moved to 2323 E. Madison Street, and in 1938, James Sr. married Mary E. Harrison from Stratford, Ontario.
Jimmy and Wayne Adams started playing music as children, with Jimmy on trumpet and Wayne on saxophone. They attended Garfield High School, and both were already accomplished musicians before graduation. Jimmy’s 1927 yearbook entry lists “music” and “Leader of the Band” as his activities. Wayne’s 1930 yearbook gives “Music School” as his future plans, and he is pictured with classmates in the school’s Band photo. In 1926, while still at Garfield, Wayne and Jimmy played in the jazz ensemble “Garfield Ramblers” formed by classmate Evelyn Bundy, already a professional musician herself. After her 1926 graduation, the group became the Evelyn Bundy Band and played in local nightclubs as part of the emerging Black jazz scene in the Central District. Jimmy Adams led his own band in Seattle from around 1931, and Wayne Adams joined Earl Whaley's band, leaving Seattle to perform in Shanghai in 1934. Wayne returned to Seattle from Shanghai around 1945, after being held in internment camps by the occupying Japanese Army for several years before the end of World War II.
The collection consists of small format snapshots as well as studio photographs of Adams family members; photographs of Jimmy and Wayne Adams in bands locally, and during Wayne's time with the Earl Whaley band in Shanghai; and one photograph album that probably belonged to Wayne Adams. The family photographs includes identified photos of James E. Sr. (also known as "Ed"), his sons Jimmy and Wayne, their Aunt Mayme and Uncle Roy, and other family and friends.
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The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
James E. Adams Family Photographs, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Gift of Dan Kerlee; received November 4, 2016
The collection materials were not not organized upon receipt, and were arranged into folders by subject by MOHAI staff.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Photograph of the marker for the grave of James R. Adams and American (Slaughter) Adams (parents of James E. Adams Sr.) located in Keokuk, Iowa. The marker lists the names and dates of the ten Adams children, three of whom died as children: George W., 1862-1944; Mary E., 1866-1930; Carrie C., 1868-1869; James E., 1871- ; Octavia B., 1874-1875; Howard E., 1876- ; Albert L., 1878-1880; Valera M., 1881- ; Herman R., 1884-1915 ; Roy C., 1887- .
Includes a house at 2323 Madison Avenue, which still stands as of 2025, and a second house, possibly the family's house at 1025 Yesler.
This group includes mostly photos of brothers Jimmy and Wayne Adams as children. All are snapshots excepting three studio portraits: of James, Jr., circa 1919, young Wayne, 1916, and a portrait of both boys with their father, circa 1916. Other named individuals pictured: Mrs. Ella Gregory, Roy Adams (James Sr.'s brother), and Robert Crane. Other photos shows Jimmy, "Evelyn," and other children at Pacific School; Wayne Adams in a school orchestra group; a family photo (Jimmy, Wayne, James Sr., Mayme and unidentified woman) on a July 4th picnic at Star Lake. Also includes a 1906 photo of James "Ed" Adams and early photo of Mary L. "Mayme" Adams Johnson, and a photo of the Stratford home of Mrs. Harrison
Largely photos of James Sr. "Ed" Adams, and Jimmy and Wayne Adams. Includes a studio portrait of Wayne Adams in a suit, circa 1927. Also includes photos of Mayme Adams Johnson, Valera Adams Wilday and other family members, and dog "Pal." Includes a 1927 family photo, photos of Jimmy and Wayne with their trumpet and saxophone, and with friends. Other named individuals: Mr. and Mrs. Vrooman, Lonnie Wells, Bruce Row, "Nettie," Mrs. Harrison.
This group of photos shows individuals on trips to the Green River Gorge in 1923 and 1929, with a few undated photos. Named individuals include: Mrs, Gregory, Mr. Ford, Mrs. Williams, Mr. & Mrs. Vrooman, Roscoe Smith, Mrs. Harrison, Wayne Adams, Mayme Johnson, Bessie Davis
Photographs of Ed, Jimmy, and Wayne Adams; Mayme Johnson; a 1931 photo of Ed's mother America Adams, and of America with her daughter Valera, grandson, and "Vivian"; and Ed with Mary Harrison and others at picnic. Other named individuals: Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Harrison, Mr. Vrooman, Mrs. Stewart, Jennie Dire Grason, Sammy Blanchard, Chrystaly Maxwell, Betty Gordon, Gene Carden, Mary Williams.
Two photographs of the Adams brothers in bands in Seattle. One shows nine Black male musicians, including Wayne and Jimmy Adams, standing behind a piano at which a Black woman sits. The other shows eight musicians seated in a performance space. Both are inscribed on verso: From James & Wayne Jan. 17/31.
Two photographs of Jimmy Adams in Portland, with two different bands at different venues. Handwritten on verso on one of the photos: From James To Dad Dec. 23/34 Portland Ore.
Portrait of Jimmy Adams in a tux, inscribed in upper right corner "To Dad."
Many American jazz musicians traveled to Shanghai during the city's golden age in the 1930s, when "the Paris of the Orient" was the newest horizon on an increasingly international jazz music scene. For Black musicians, who were often excluded from white musicians' unions in the U.S. and subjected to other forms of segregation, Shanghai provided steady, well-paid work, and greater respect than they received in most American venues outside the Black community. Shanghai's golden age ended on December 8, 1941, when Japanese forces occupied the International Settlement shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many musicians were among the foreigners stranded in Shanghai and incarcerated in camps until the end of World War II in 1945.
These photos show Wayne Adams and other musicians in Shanghai. Two photos shows musicians and others on board the Japanese ship S.S. Taiyomaru; one showing mostly Black musicians has identifications written on verso: Kirk, Luk, Harry Allen, Edgar Mason, Alfred Brooks, Calvin Temple, West Brooks, Lewey Gangalino, Happy Johnson, Dudley Brooks, Slick Clark. Other snapshots of individuals and groups in China depict: Jimmy Carson, Earl Whaley, a Chinese bandleader named "Andy," bands called Lion Swingboys and Count Vide (the latter featuring Wayne Adams), a portrait of Wayne Adams in a tux and bow tie inscribed "To Dad from his Baby in China." Includes two formal photos of Wayne in Earl Whaley's band, from December 1934 and May 1936, and a promotional collaged photo of Earl Whaley's orchestra. Also includes a badly damaged promotional photo of Buck Clayton and his Harlem Gentlemen on the Canidrome Ballroom Stage in Shanghai, inscribed to Wayne Adams from band member Duke Upshaw.
This group also includes a folder with 9 photographs of Asian women that may be friends that Wayne Adams made while in Shanghai; some have dates which correspond to his time there. Identifications on these photos: Chiek Watanabe (October 4, 1938), Alice Adams, and Betty Wong (marked Shanghai 1936).
Includes one studio portrait of Ed Adams; one studio photo of Ed Adams and Mrs. Harrison around 1936, inscribed "Fondest love, from Dad & Mother"; and a photo of Ed in his chauffeur uniform standing next to a car. Snapshots show Ed Adams and Mrs. Harrison, outside the home at 2323 Madison and walking in town. Folder 12 also includes Ed's 1927 Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
One photograph of George Adams, brother of James E. Adams, in Keokuk, Iowa.
Photographs sent by Jerrieta Anderson Morton to "my dear friend" Mayme Johnson. Most of the photos depict a man identified as "Cousin Al" Anderson, of the vaudeville comedy act Anderson & Goines. Also includes one snapshot identified as "your old sidekick Jay H. Goines of Anderson & Goines," taken in Winnepeg in 1921.
Photographs of a man identified as "Mr. Vrooman." Images also depict: Mrs. Vrooman, a niece, and a group in Nanaimo, B.C, including Mayme Johnson
One photograph of Mary Harrison with her son Bill at the conservatory in Winnipeg, December 2, 1929, and one photo of a group identified as: Harold Duncan, Bob Harrison, Alice Duncan, M.E. [Mary] Harrison, Percy Evans, Mrs. Evans, Caro Harrison, Margaret Harrison, Mr. Husband, Ada Hisson and "Little Barbara."
Adams brothers' friend Bruce Row with "Miss Grason" and an unidentified woman.
One photo of Ed Hannahs as a young man in military uniform, and a photo of Ed and Martha Hannahs, inscribed "To Our Loving Friend Mrs. Mayme Johnson," October 7, 1924 in Los Angeles.
This group includes photos where individuals are identified but were not seen in other photographs of the family. They may include friends and acquaintances. Names listed: Anna Hagberg, Erskin Brissett, Beckles, Urle Lewis, Mr. Robb, Ben Jordon, Bryant, Jim Jefferson, Chester Ryard, Nettie Hyles, Jackson, Emma Bosman, Mrs. Summers, Roper, Albert Katlin, Blacky Williams, Georgia Wilson, Chester Ryard, and Myrtle.
Includes one studio portrait in photo folder from the Seattle studio of James & Bushnell of a young black woman, inscribed From C (or G) to E, May 27, 1919, presumably to Ed Adams.
Inscribed: Compliments to - My little Keokuk Pal Ed Adams--From Jay Goines 1917-18
Inscribed: The lad from "Billy Goat Hill" K.K.K. Compliments to Ed-- 1917-18
Inscribed: To Irene & Wayne, Best of Luck, Reggie Jones. Handwritten on verso: March 13, 1953 Boat Nose Jones
This album apparently belonged to Robert "Wayne" Adams, as it includes several photographs in which an older Wayne Adams is identifiable, and also includes his 1930 diploma from Garfield High School. Many of the photos were taken outside of the Adams' family house at 2323 Madison Avenue, and the album also includes childhood photos of Wayne and family. Several photos show Wayne with a woman who may be Lillian Humphrey, his wife beginning in 1958. Other identified or identifiable individuals: Wayne's father, James E. Adams, Sr., Alfred Anthony Jr.. The photos are attached to the pages with glue or scotch tape.