Adela Akers papers, 1960-2009

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

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Table of Contents:

• Biographical Information
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Biographical Information

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.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

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 and Series Description

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)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

The collection was donated in 2009 and 2011 by Adela Akers.

Separated and Related Materials

Also found at the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Adela Akers, 2008 Mar. 4-6, conducted by Mija Riedel.

How the Collection was Processed

The collection was processed to a minimal level in 2012 by Erin Kinhart.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Adela Akers papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

How to Cite this Collection

Adela Akers papers, 1960-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1970s, 1991-1998 (Box 1; 3 folders)

Found here are scattered employment records from Akers's tenure in the Craft Department at Tyler School of Art, one award certificate, and several draft versions of her resume.

Series 2: Correspondence, 1985-1987 (Box 1; 3 folders)

Correspondence documents Akers's professional dealings with art galleries, museums, organizations, and services, from 1985-1987. Researchers should note that additional correspondence is included in Series 3: Subject Files.

Correspondence is arranged in rough chronological order.

Series 3: Subject Files, 1960-2007 (Box 1; 0.6 linear feet)

Found here are subject files which Akers maintained to document her work with galleries and fiber arts organizations, exhibitions, lectures and workshops, and commissioned projects. Also found are files on weaving technique and research on other fiber artists. Files may include correspondence, notes, printed material, agreements, lists of artwork, and a few scattered photographs.

Files are arranged alphabetically. Akers's original folder titles were maintained.

Series 4: Writings, 1973-1995 (Box 1; 3 folders)

Writings consist of loose notes on weaving and one weaving notebook. Both contain notes, diagrams, illustrations, and lists. The weaving notebook also includes attached fiber samples.

The weaving notebook was removed from a three-ring binder and the original order of the pages has been maintained.

Series 5: Printed Material, 1962-2009 (Box 1-2, 6; 6 folders)

Printed material consists of exhibition catalogs and announcements, news clippings and magazines containing mentions of Akers, and one publication regarding Akers's work for the Alliance for Progress program in Peru.

Series 6: Photographic Materials, 1960-2008 (Box 2-3; 0.4 linear feet)

Photographs depict Adela Akers working in her studio, an exhibition installation and opening at Shop One Gallery, artworks in progresss, and weavings by Akers. Also found are digital photographs, negatives, transparencies, and slides of her artwork.

Series 7: Artwork, circa 1960s-1980s (Box 3-6, OV 7; 1.1 linear feet)

Artwork by Akers consists of one bound sketchbook, three three-dimensional studies, and 32 color studies for her weavings.