Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Adela Akers Papers, 1960-2009, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.akeradel
Creators:
Akers, Adela, 1933-
Dates:
1960-2009
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.6 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of fiber artist and educator Adela Akers measure 2.6 linear feet and date from 1960 to 2009. Her career as an artist and her tenure at the Tyler School of Art, Temple University, are documented through scattered biographical material; correspondence; subject files on galleries, projects, weaving technique, research, workshops, and fiber arts organizations; writings; exhibition announcements, clippings, and other printed material; photographs; and artwork, including one sketchbook.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content Note
The papers of fiber artist and educator Adela Akers measure 2.6 linear feet and date from 1960 to 2009. Her career as an artist and her tenure at the Tyler School of Art, Temple University, are documented through scattered biographical material; correspondence; subject files on galleries, projects, weaving technique, research, workshops, and fiber arts organizations; writings; exhibition announcements, clippings, and other printed material; photographs; and artwork, including one sketchbook.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 7 series:
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, 1970s, 1991-1998 (Box 1; 3 folders)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, 1985-1987 (Box 1; 3 folders)
  • Series 3: Subject Files, 1960-2007 (Box 1; 0.6 linear feet)
  • Series 4: Writings, 1973-1995 (Box 1; 3 folders)
  • Series 5: Printed Material, 1962-2009 (Box 1-2, 6; 6 folders)
  • Series 6: Photographic Materials, 1960-2008 (Box 2-3; 0.4 linear feet)
  • Series 7: Artwork, circa 1960s-1980s (Box 3-6, OV 7; 1.1 linear feet)

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Adela Akers (1933- ) is a fiber artist and educator living and working in Guerneville, California.
Akers was born in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and was raised in Havana, Cuba. She came to the United States as a student in 1957 and studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Cranbrook Academy of Art. In 1965 she served as a weaving advisor in Peru for the Alliance for Progress and was an artist in residence at Penland School of Crafts from 1968-1970. From 1972 to 1995 Akers was a professor and chair of fiber arts at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia. Her weavings consist of zigzags, checkerboard patterns, and simple geometric shapes.

Administration

Author
Erin Kinhart
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The collection was donated in 2009 and 2011 by Adela Akers.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level in 2012 by Erin Kinhart.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Adela Akers papers, 1960-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Restrictions on Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Related Material
Also found at the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Adela Akers, 2008 Mar. 4-6, conducted by Mija Riedel.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Weavers -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fiber artists -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women textile artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Decorative arts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tyler School of Art Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
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