NPG - Papers of Charles Kingsley Adams

The following materials can be found in Charles Kingsley Adams' papers:

- Work for the National Portrait Gallery, specifically one file of lecture notes and one file of miscellaneous correspondence

- Portrait research, including a notebook on portraits at Cambridge, a notebook on portraits at Speaker's House, one file on portraits owned by the Barber Surgeons Company, and one file on various portraits

- Work for external bodies, including files on Adams' catalogue of the Garrick Club artworks, portraits of Horace Walpole, artworks at Hagley Hall, artworks at Hatfield House, and single files relating to work for other bodies.

Charles Kingsley Adams (1899-1971) was born on Jun 17 1899 and was the son of Albert Edward Adams. He was educated at Kings' School, Worcester.

He served in the First World War, and in 1919 became Assistant Keeper at the National Portrait Gallery. In 1951 he was appointed Director upon the death of Sir Henry Hake, a post he held until his retirement in 1964. He assisted Hake in protecting the collection during the Second World War, and in reconstituting and re-hanging the collection after the war.

Adams published catalogues of the artworks of the Garrick Club, the Portland Collection, artworks at Hatfield House and portraits of Horace Walpole.

Adams married Lily Eva Brewer in 1927. They had one son and two daughters.

Adams died on the 19th Jan 1971 aged 74.

Available to view by appointment in the Heinz Archive and Library Public Study Room, to make an appointment contact Archive Reception . Although records are generally available for public consultation, some information in them, such as personal data or information supplied to the Gallery in confidence, may be restricted.

The complete catalogue for this archive can be searched via the NPG Archive Catalogue .

Personal photography is permitted for research purposes only. Photocopying is not permitted.