James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
880 Madison DriveScott DeNoon, Tiffany Cole
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[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Acker Family Diaries, 1880-1906, SC 0095, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
The collection is on deposit by contract from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.
In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 2050.
Both Isaac and David Acker were avid farmers, devoted to agriculture, with an interest in carpentry. Isaac (1832-1908), born near Broadway, served in the Confederate Army as an orderly sergeant in the 7th Virginia Cavalry under Generals Turner Ashby and Thomas L. Rosser. He married Sallie V. Shoup (nee Shirkey), widow of Captain J.C. Shoup on November 11, 1868.
David C. Acker (1869-1959), son of Isaac, was influential in founding the Rockingham County Farm Bureau, where he served as president for many years. He also served as director of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and was a member of both the Agricultural Advisory Council of Rockingham County and the Agricultural Conference Board of Virginia. In addition, David was president of the First National Bank of Broadway and secretary-treasurer of the Rockingham Mutual Telephone and Telegraph Company. David married Martha M.B Sellers on April 6, 1906 and fathered three children with her.
The Acker Family Diaries, 1880-1906, consist of one Hollinger box and contains the personal diaries of Rockingham County residents Isaac Acker and his son David. The elder Acker' s diaries span the years 1880-1906, while his son's cover 1889-1900. The diaries of both men are similar in that they discuss the day-to-day events in the lives of the Acker family. There is much overlap in the diaries as topics such as farming, weather, visiting, and daily chores appear frequently in both works. Other topics discussed in the diaries include weddings, funerals, church activities, and trips. The collection is arranged in three series: Isaac Acker Diaries, David C. Acker Diaries, and Indices.
Series 1, Isaac Acker Diaries, 1880-1906, comprises of brief entries describing daily family life, weather related observations, names of visitors, and work activities. There are numerous accounts of Isaac and his family going to the "Babtist Church" or the "Creek Church" on Sundays.
Series 2, David C. Acker Diaries, 1889-1900, consists of short accounts on farming, family, weather descriptions, and general day-to-day activities. There are no diary entries between September 3, 1889 and May 15, 1890.
Series 3, Indices, was compiled by local historian Agnes Kline and the Eastern Mennonite University Historical Library staff based on their copies of the diaries. The assistance of EMU is necessary to correlate entries from the index to the original diaries at JMU. The indices correspond to the Isaac Acker Diaries, 1880-1906, and the David C. Acker Diaries, 1897-1903, some of which are owned by the EMU Historical Library.
The collection is arranged in three series:
Isaac Acker Diaries, 1880-1906 David C. Acker Diaries, 1889-1900 IndicesAcker Diaries, 1880-1959, Eastern Mennonite University Historical Library, Harrisonburg, Va. (Photocopies of original diaries held by JMU)