Adamson was born in
Cooktown, Queensland as one of six children of Reverend John Adamson and his wife Caroline, and was educated at
Maryborough Girls' Grammar School. Her older sister
May led a similar career path, also ultimately becoming a headmistress of the Queensland Domestic Science High School. She worked as an assistant teacher at Eagle Junction State School, then attended
University of Queensland to complete a Bachelor of Arts. After completing her degree she worked in a series of schools, before becoming the officer-in-charge of the commercial section of the Queensland Juvenile Employment Bureau in 1943. She later unsuccessfully applied for the role of post of senior instructor in the Department of Public Instruction, but appealed against the appointment of a male colleague and won. She later became assistant headmistress for Maryborough State High and Intermediate School for Girls and became headmistress from 7 July 1949. She retired on 31 December 1959. Adamson died of
myocardial infarction on 19 June 1963 at
Clayfield, Brisbane, and was cremated. ==References==