Adams House History

Adams House

Adams House is home to the Office of Budget & Financial Planning. The building is named after George Edward Adams. Located at the corner of Upper College and Fortin Roads on the Kingston campus the three story building was George Adams personal home.

George Edward Adams, the first graduate of the Rhode Island State College, retired from active service in June of 1938 after devoting 44 years of his life to his work at the University. Adams graduated in 1894 with a B.S. from the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. He then went on to graduate school at Cornell until 1901. Adams received his Masters in Agriculture from Rhode Island in 1916.

Dean Adams worked first as Assistant Horticulturist of the Rhode Island Experiment Station from 1894 to 1901, and then as Associate Agronomist until 1912. In 1907 he became Professor of Agronomy and was promoted to Dean of the Agricultural Department in 1917. He served as the Dean of Men from 1924 to 1931. In July of 1925, Dean Adams was made the Director of the Extension Service. In 1933, Dean Adams was placed in charge of the School of Agriculture and Home Economics. He served the University in that capacity until his retirement in 1938.

Both Adams House and Adams Hall are named for George Adams. Adams House was Adams’ private home and was donated to the University after his death in 1966.