A new exhibit at the Boston Public Library highlights the surprising role that American Founding Father John Adams played after the Boston Public Massacre – defending British soldiers who were tried for murder.

“The Boston Massacre is often remembered as the spark that ignited America’s Revolution, and the Boston Public Library has some of the most important documents from that time,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “As the holder of Adams’ Presidential Library, our city’s library is uniquely qualified to shed light on this lesser known part of our history.”

“Riot and the Rule of Law: The Boston Massacre, John Adams and the Trial of 1770” is an exhibition of original manuscripts, rare books, maps and political cartoons relating to the Boston Massacre and John Adams’ historic defense of the British Troops indicted and tried for murder.

As the BPL exhibit shows, Boston’s most famous riot resulted in a fiery trial, with John Adams calling his defense, “one of the best Pieces of Service I ever rendered my Country.”

Visitors will see Paul Revere’s original sketch of the massacre, early colonial maps of Boston, books from John Adams’ personal library which he used to prepare his defense, as well Adams’ notes from the trial.

“Riot and the Rule of Law” is generously funded by the Boston Public Library Foundation, and brings together original artifacts—manuscript documents, early printed books, historic maps, cartoons and prints—from the Library’s Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts, the personal library of John Adams, the BPL’s Print Department and the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center. The exhibition coincides with a two-year project, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, to catalogue, preserve, digitize, and provide access to the John Adams Library.

The exhibit, which opened January 14, traces the history of this momentous event in Boston’s, and America’s, history from the years immediately preceding the Massacre, through to the trial and verdict, and on to the enduring legacy. All of the material is from the BPL’s extensive collections, including holdings from its John Adams Presidential Library.

The exhibit is on display through March 5 in the newly renovated Changing Exhibit Space, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street, Copley Square. For information, call 617-536-5400. The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m.

For more than 150 years, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America with revolutionary ideas and famous firsts. Established in 1848, the BPL was the first publicly supported municipal library in America, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library and the first to have a children’s room. Today, the BPL boasts 27 neighborhood branches, free Internet access, two unique restaurants, an award-winning website www.bpl.org and an on-line store featuring reproductions of the BPL’s priceless photographs and artwork. Each year, the BPL hosts nearly 5000 programs, answers more than one million reference questions and serves millions of people in its National Historic Landmark McKim Building in Copley Square. All of its programs and exhibits are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning!

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Prepared by the Boston Public Library's Communications Office. For more information about news, programs and events at the BPL, call 617-859-2212 or send a message to the Communications Office.