Benjamin Paul Akers letter collection, 1858-1920

Collection Information

Size: 1 Microfilm reel

Summary: The Benjamin Paul Akers letter collection dates from 1858 to 1920. The collection consists of letters from Akers to various friends, relatives, and others. Of note is an exchange of letters with Hiram Powers regarding an article by Akers in the Atlantic Monthly (1860). Also included are letters about Akers written to the Maine Historical Society by his widow, the writer Elizabeth Akers Allen and other acquaintances, and an obituary published in The Crayon .

Biographical/Historical Note

Benjamin Paul Akers (1825-1861) was a sculptor in Maine. He also wrote articles on art for the Atlantic Monthly and The Crayon , a New York art magazine. He was married to writer and poet, Elizabeth Akers Allen (1832-1911).

Provenance

The letters were lent for microfilming by the Maine Historical Society in 1963, and returned after filming.

Related Materials

The Maine Historical Society holds the Benjamin Paul Akers scrapbook, circa 1860 and the Elizabeth Akers Allen papers 1852-1914.

Language Note

English .

Location of Originals

• Original letters are at the Maine Historical Society, 485 Congress Street, Portland, Maine.

Digitization Note

This site provides access to the papers of Benjamin Paul Akers in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2025 from 1 reel of microfilm, and total 115 images.

Funding Note

The digitization of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Information System (CIS) IRM Pool Fund