Frank P. Adams was born in 1886. He lived in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in the late 1950s, and Beverly, Massachusetts in 1962. He had a sister, Maude, who lived in Bangor, Maine. He was married to Alice M. Adams, and it is possible that they had a son, Frank Jr., as Frank (born 1886) is addressed as Frank Sr. Adams appears to have been researching shipbuilding in New England during the time period during the time this collection covers; he often conducted research at the Peabody Museum.

During his research, Adams often contacted Robert B. Applebee (1885-1979), with whom he traded ship information. Applebee was a former United States Customs worker, avid maritime history collector, and a member of the Nautical Research Guild. Applebee often received visits from scholars who wished to do research using his collections. In fact, he was known for his outstanding private library and was recognized as an authority on maritime history, happily sharing his knowledge of the subject with the world community (Maine Maritime Museum). He was a trustee and historian at the Penobscot Marine Museum. He lived in Stockton Springs, Maine, at the time of his exchanges with Adams.