A Guide to the Acker Family Diaries, 1880-1906 SC 0095

A Guide to the Acker Family Diaries, 1880-1906 SC 0095


[logo]

James Madison University Libraries Special Collections

880 Madison Drive
MSC 1704
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/

Scott DeNoon, Tiffany Cole

Repository
James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Identification
SC 0095
Title
Acker Family Diaries 1880-1906
Quantity
0.4 cubic feet, 1 Hollinger box
Creator
Acker, Isaac, 1832-1908
Creator
Acker, David C., 1869-1959
source
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society
Language
English .
Abstract
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. The collection is arranged in three series: Isaac Acker Diaries, David C. Acker Diaries, and Indices.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Acker Family Diaries, 1880-1906, SC 0095, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The collection is on deposit by contract from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.

Processing Information

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.


Biographical Information

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.

Scope and Content

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.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series:

Isaac Acker Diaries, 1880-1906 David C. Acker Diaries, 1889-1900 Indices

Related Material

Acker Diaries, 1880-1959, Eastern Mennonite University Historical Library, Harrisonburg, Va. (Photocopies of original diaries held by JMU)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Acker family -- Diaries
  • Agriculture -- Virginia -- History
  • Diaries
  • Farmers -- Virginia -- Diaries
  • Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society
  • Rockingham Cooperative
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- Genealogy
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- History
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- Social life and customs
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Genealogy
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Social life and customs
  • Virginia -- Genealogy
  • Virginia -- History
  • Virginia -- Social life and customs
  • Weather diaries

Bibliography

Couper, William. History of the Shenandoah Valley: Family and Personal Records, V.3 . New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1952.
Wayland, John W. Men of Mark and representative citizens of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia. Staunton, Va: The McClure Company, Inc., 1943.

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Acker, David C., 1869-1959
  • Acker, Isaac, 1832-1908

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- Genealogy
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- History
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- Social life and customs
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Genealogy
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Social life and customs
  • Virginia -- Genealogy
  • Virginia -- History
  • Virginia -- Social life and customs

Container List

1
Isaac Acker Diaries
1880-1906
  • Mixed Materials [1000886547] box: 1 folder: 1
    Isaac Acker Diaries
    1880-1885
  • Mixed Materials [1000886547] box: 1 folder: 2
    Isaac Acker Diaries
    1886-1891
  • Mixed Materials [1000886547] box: 1 folder: 3
    Isaac Acker Diaries
    1892-1896
  • Mixed Materials [1000886547] box: 1 folder: 4
    Isaac Acker Diaries
    1897-1902
  • Mixed Materials [1000886547] box: 1 folder: 5
    Isaac Acker Diaries
    1903-December 1906
2
David C. Acker Diaries
1889-1900
  • Mixed Materials [1000886547] box: 1 folder: 6
    David C. Acker Diaries
    1889-1894
  • Mixed Materials [1000886547] box: 1 folder: 7
    David C. Acker Diaries
    1895-1900
3
Indices
  • Mixed Materials [1000886547] box: 1 folder: 8
    Indices