• articles in the Dictionary of National Biography:
  • "Adams, John (fl.1680)," in Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, London: Smith, Elder, & Co. (1885–1900) in 63 vols.
  • "Adams, John (1662-1720)," in Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, London: Smith, Elder, & Co. (1885–1900) in 63 vols.
  • "Adams, John (1750?-1814)," in Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, London: Smith, Elder, & Co. (1885–1900) in 63 vols.
  • "Adams, John (1760?-1829)," in Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, London: Smith, Elder, & Co. (1885–1900) in 63 vols.
• articles in The Encyclopedia Americana (1920):
  • "Adams, John," in The Encyclopedia Americana, New York: The Encyclopedia Americana Corporation (1920)
  • "Adams, John (Confederate)," in The Encyclopedia Americana, New York: The Encyclopedia Americana Corporation (1920)
  • "Adams, John (educator)," in The Encyclopedia Americana, New York: The Encyclopedia Americana Corporation (1920)
  • "Adams, John (mutineer)," in The Encyclopedia Americana, New York: The Encyclopedia Americana Corporation (1920)
• articles in The New International Encyclopædia
  • "Adams, John," in The New International Encyclopædia, New York: Dodd, Mead and Co. (1905)
  • "Adams, John (mutineer)," in The New International Encyclopædia, New York: Dodd, Mead and Co. (1905)
  • "Adams, John (teacher)," in The New International Encyclopædia, New York: Dodd, Mead and Co. (1905)
• articles in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica:
  • "Adams, John," in Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed., 1911)
• articles in The New Student's Reference Work:
  • "Adams, John," in The New Student's Reference Work, Chicago: F.E. Compton and Co. (1914)
• articles in Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921):
  • "Adams, John," in Collier's New Encyclopedia, New York: P. F. Collier & Son Co. (1921)
• articles in Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography:
  • "Adams, John," in Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, New York: D. Appleton and Co. (1891)

For works by and about John Adams (1735–1826), second President of the United States, see Author:John Adams (1735-1826).