George Aker Papers 1957-1985

George Aker Papers 1957-1985

The Adult Education History Project

Based on Information in the Syracuse University Library Archives

Translated for the WWW by Roger Hiemstra

- Item_Number-

Record_type-

Collection

RLIN_ID-

NXSV90-A6.

Main_entry-

Aker, George F.

Title-

Papers, 1957-1985.

KLARS_source-

Phys_descrip-

7 linear ft.

Strategy_hints-

See also the following collection(s) at Syracuse University:

Adult Education Association [AEA-USA].

Charters, Alexander N.

Hendrickson, Andrew.

Houle, Cyril Orvin.

Knowles, Malcolm Sheperd.

National Association of Public School Adult Educators [NAPSAE].

Bio/hist_note-

Educator.

George F. Aker was an adult educator who held teaching positions at the universities of Missouri, Wisconsin and Chicago, but he is best known for his more than 20 years of service with Florida State University [FSU] at Tallahassee as professor of adult education and director of the division of Educational Management Systems. Aker was a member of several professional organizations including the Adult Education Association of the U.S.A. [AEA-USA], of which he was president from 1969-1970, and the National Association of Public School Adult Education for which he served on the board of directors from 1963-1970. An author and editor of several books on the field of adult education, including the Handbook of Adult Education (1970), Aker also wrote numerous research papers, journal articles and training guides. George Aker's major professional interests were in the development of graduate study and research programs in adult education, and in psychological research to improve the efficiency of adult learning, especially among the disadvantaged and in third world countries. In addition, Aker pursued an interest in new systems of non-formal education as well as in the coordination of adult education with community services and the development of educational technologies for older persons.

Summry_descrip-

Consists primarily of correspondence with some printed material, reflecting this educator's professional career. The papers are arranged chronologically under the following associations and institutions with which Aker was affiliated: Adult Education Association of the U.S.A. [AEA-USA] (1957-1975), Canadian Association for Adult Education [CAAE] (1964-1970), Florida Adult Education Association [FAEA] (1958-1970), Florida State University [FSU] (1958-1985), Illinois Adult Education Association [IAEA] (1950s-1960s), National Association for Public School Adult Education [NAPSAE] (1963-1970), and National Seminar on Adult Education Research (1961-1968).

Correspondents whose letters are of significant depth and/or duration include: Felix Adam (1969-1983), Sam Roy Allen (1967-1977), Ray Ast (1967-1982), Roger W. Axford (1964-1982), Edgar J. Boone (1967-1979), Alexander N. Charters (1968-1982), James H. Fling (1965-1983), Andrew Hendrickson (1965-1976), Cyril O. Houle (1963-1976), Joseph L. Jacques (1972-1977), Eugene I. Johnson (1964-1974), J.R. Kidd (1967-1977), Malcolm S. Knowles (1965-1980), Burton W. Kreitlow (1957-1977), Huey B. Long (1967-1984), Robert A. Luke (1969-1982), Howard Y. McClusky (1965-1976), Jules Pagano (1969-1977), Robert E. Sharer (1967-1971), Robert E. Snyder (1967-1976), and Wilson B. Thiede (1963-1983).

Series-

Adult Education Association of the U.S.A. [AEA-USA].

Canadian Association for Adult Education [CAAE].

Florida Adult Education Association [FAEA].

Florida State University [FSU].

Illinois Adult Education Association [IAEA].

National Association for Public School Adult Education [NAPSAE].

National Seminar on Adult Education Research.

Folder_title-

Set_title-

Begin_date-

19570000

Source_B_date-

End_date-

19850000

Source_E_date-

Form/genre-

Correspondence.

Education-

Work_history-

Assoc_subjects-

Adult education -- Research.

Adult education -- United States.

Aged -- Education.

Educators -- United States.

Assoc_people-

Adam, Felix, 1922-.

Allen, Sam Roy.

Ast, Ray J.

Axford, Roger W.

Boone, Edgar John, 1930-.

Charters, Alexander N.

Fling, James H.

Hendrickson, Andrew, 1899-.

Houle, Cyril Orvin, 1913-.

Jacques, Joseph L.

Johnson, Eugene I.

Kidd, J. R. (James Robbins), 1915-1982.

Knowles, Malcolm Sheperd, 1913-.

Kreitlow, Burton W.

Long, Huey B.

Luke, Robert A.

McClusky, Howard Y., 1900-1982.

Pagano, Jules.

Sharer, Robert E., 1900-.

Snyder Robert E.

Thiede, Wilson B.

Assoc_organiz-

Adult Education Association [AEA-USA].

Canadian Association for Adult Education [CAAE].

Florida State University.

Illinois Adult Education Association [IAEA].

National Association for Public School Adult Education [NAPSAE].

Assoc_evnt/prj-

Institute on Education for Older Citizens (Florida State University [FSU]).

National Seminar on Adult Education Research (1961-1968).

Assoc_places-

Publications-

References_to-

Location-

George Arents Research Library for Special Collections at Syracuse University,

Manuscript Collections,

Bird Library,

Room 600,

Syracuse, N.Y. 13244-2010.

Provenance-

Restrictions-

Pref_citation-

In addition to following normal manuscript citation conventions, include these elements when citing records found "electronically" through The Adult Education History Project: Main entry, Title, Item number, and, if a specific image is being cited, Component number. Mention, too, that the record was found in "http://www-distance.syr.edu/history.html, an Electronic Source for Syracuse University Library's database for archives and manuscripts".

OCRd_text-

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS

Biography

George F. Aker was born June 2, 1927, the son of George Mosier and

Vera Aker, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He married Patricia Lou Lawson

in 1946 and was the father of four children: Linda Lou, Kathy Ann,

Jon Kent, and Susan Nanette. Aker earned a B.S. in 1950 from

Purdue University and both an M.S. in 1958 and Ph.D. in 1962 from

the University of Wisconsin. He held faculty positions at the

universities of Missouri, Wisconsin and Chicago. In 1963 he joined

the faculty of the Florida State University at Tallahassee. At the

time of his death in 1987 he was a professor of adult education and

director of the Division of Educational Management Systems at

F.S.U.

An activist in national adult education organizations, Aker was a

member of the Adult Education Association of the U.S.A. and its

president from 1969-1970. He also served on the board of directors

for the National Association of Public School Adult Education from

1963-1970. An author and editor of several books on the field of

adult education, including the Handbook of Adult Education (1970),

Aker also wrote numerous research papers, journal articles and

training guides.

George Aker's major professional interests were in the development

of graduate study and research programs in adult education, and in

psychological research to improve the efficiency of adult learning,

especially among the disadvantaged and in third world countries. In

addition, Aker pursued an interest in new systems of non-formal

education as well as in the coordination of adult education with

community services and the development of educational technologies

for older persons.

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 2

Description

The George F. Aker Papers consist primarily of correspondence with

some printed material, reflecting this educator's professional

career. The papers are organized under the various associations

and institutions with which Aker was affiliated. Arranged

alphabetically, they appear as follows:

Adult Education Association of the U.S.A.

Canadian Association for Adult Education

Florida Adult Education Association

Florida State University

Illinois Adult Education Association

National Association for Public School Adult Education

National Seminar on Adult Education Research

Within each division there may be several sub-divisions, which

appear alphabetically.

The collection is predominantly correspondence, which has been

arranged chronologically within each organizational division. A

selected index of correspondents appears on pages 15-34 of the

inventory. This alphabetically arranged index indicates the

various sub-divisions under which selected correspondents' letters

are located, but does not provide access to other materials within

the collection with which these individuals may have been

associated. Among those selected for inclusion in the index are:

persons important to the field of adult education; students and

colleagues of Aker; nationally-recognized political figures; and/or

persons whose papers are part of the adult and continuing education

collections at Syracuse University. The latter are indicated by an

asterisk preceding the name of the individual.

Abolfotouh, Mahin Kadir, Mohamed A.

Adam, Felix Kapoor, Sudarshan

Agnew, Spiro T. *Kempfer, Homer

Allen, Sam Roy Kidd, J. R.

Ast, Ray *Knowles, Malcolm S.

Axford, Roger W. Kreitlow, Burton W.

Boone, Edgar J. Landau, Sol

Boyd, Robert D. Law, David Kwok-Chuen

Carlson, Robert A. *Liveright, A. A.

*Charters, Alexander N. Long, Huey B.

Fling, James H. Luke, Robert A.

Friere, Paulo McClusky, Howard Y.

*Hendrickson, Andrew McGovern, Sen. George

*Houle, Cyril O. Muskie, Sen. Edmund

Humphrey, Sen. Hubert H. Pagano, Jules

Jackson, Sen. Henry Qazilbush, Husain

*Jacques, Joseph L. Rusk, Dean

Javits, Sen. Jacob *Sharer, Robert E.

Johnson, Eugene I. *Sheats, Paul H.

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 3

Description (continued)

Snyder, Robert E. Thiede, Wilson B.

*Stensland, Per C.

The Adult Education Association of the U.S.A. files date from 1957-

1975. The period between 1969-1970 is particularly well

represented, as during this time George Aker was president of AEA-

USA. Within this division are the correspondence and printed

material of the AEA's commissions, including the Commission of

Professors of Adult Education, and various other committees,

councils, and sections. Correspondence, chapter outlines and

drafts for the Handbook of Adult Education (1970), of which Aker

was the editor, are also included.

A file for the Canadian Association for Adult Education dates from

1964-1970. Included is some correspondence, general organizational

information, and publication lists as well as background material

and minutes of this organization's 1970 annual meeting.

The Florida Adult Education Association file contains

correspondence and printed material from 1958-1970. The printed

material includes meeting reports and minutes, constitutions, and

the 1966-1967 Yearbook and Membership Directory.

The largest division in the collection is for Florida State

University, the files of which range from 1958-1985. Incoming and

outgoing correspondence is chronologically arranged but not

interfiled. In addition to those individuals already mentioned as

important to the collection, there are many other colleagues with

whom Aker worked daily and whose contributions are noteworthy:

Blake, Garth Jahns, Irwin R.

Fordyce, Phillip Jensen, Glenn

Gant, Jack L. Kroop, Russell P.

Goerke, Glenn Marshall, J. Stanley

Hand, Sam E. Rasmussen, L. V.

Hardee, Mel Schroeder, Wayne L.

Ingham, Roy J. Stone, Mode L.

In addition, there are files for the Division of Educational

Management Systems which Aker directed following the consolidation

of the Department for Adult and Continuing Education and other

educational departments within the university. The Institute on

Education for Older Citizens (co-directed with Andrew Hendrickson)

and the National Institute for Resource Development and Utilization

in Adult Basic Education - Phase III are also major sub-divisions

under Florida State University. Completing these organizational

records are site visitation reports for the Career Opportunities

Program, conferences and meetings files, newspaper clippings, and

an Information File which includes material on adult education

grouped by subject.

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 4

Description (continued)

There is one file for the Illinois Adult Education Association

dating from the 1950s-1960s. This file contains a copy of the

constitution and bylaws as well as a readings list and speech from

the 1963 annual meeting.

The National Association for Public School Adult Education covers

the period 1963-1970. It includes files for Aker's tenure as

a member of its board of directors and his involvement with the

Professional Development Committee. As is true of the collection

in general, these files contain mostly correspondence, but there is

some printed material, primarily in the form of budgets, minutes

and reports.

The National Seminar on Adult Education Research is the final

division in the collection. It covers the annual seminar from

1961-1968, with each file devoted to a particular year. Included

in the files may be any combination of correspondence and

printed material such as reports, rosters and general seminar

information.

Size of collection: 7 linear ft.

Inclusive dates: 1957-1985

PH July 1990

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 5

Arrangement

The following is an outline of the arrangement of the collection.

A more detailed listing of the collection contents, with specific

references to location, begins on the next page.

I. Adult Education Association of the U.S.A.

A. AEA Reporter

B. Budgets

C. Commissions

D. Committees

E. Conferences

F. Constitutions

G. Correspondence - General

H. Councils

I. Handbook of Adult Education

J. Regional Associations

K. Sections

L. Task Force on Common Concerns

II. Canadian Association for Adult Education

III. Florida Adult Education Association

IV. Florida State University

A. Ad Hoc Committee on Promotion and Tenure

B. Career Opportunities Program

C. Competency Based Program of In-Service Teacher

Training in Adult Basic Education

D. Conferences

E. Correspondence - Incoming

F. Correspondence - Outgoing

G. Educational Management Systems

H. Information File

I. Institute on Education for Older Citizens

J. Meetings

K. National Institute for Resource Development and

Utilization in Adult Basic Education - Phase II

L. Newspaper Clippings

M. Offender Assistance Project of Florida Junior College

N. Technical and Professional Development Institute for

Correctional Educators

V. Illinois Adult Education Association

VI. National Association for Public School Adult Education

A. Board of Directors

B. Conferences

C. Professional Development Committee

VII. National Seminar on Adult Education Research

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 6

Inventory

Box File

1 Adult Education Association of the U.S.A.

1 AEA Reporter, 1970

2 Budgets, 1968-1970

Commissions

3 Adult Basic Education, 1969-1973

Commission of Professors of Adult

Education

Annual Meeting

4 1964

5 1965

6 1966

7 1967

8 1968

9 1969

10 1970

11 1971

12 1972

13 1975

Committees

14 Reporting, 1959

15 Research and Dissemination

Assessment, 1970

16 Correspondence, 1957-1971 (see

Selective Index)

17 Membership, 1959-1970

18 Newsletter, 1972, 1975

19 Objectives and Activities, ca. 1968

20 Progress Reports, 1967-1968

21 Skill Bank Summary, 1968

22 Study of the Career Patterns of

Adult Education, ca. 1960

23 Planning Adult Education Learning

Systems, Facilities and

Environments, 1968-1974

24 Research, 1969-1970

Committees

25 Action Now, 1970

26 Committee of Adult Education

Organizations, 1969

27 Committee on Committees, 1968-1970

28 Executive, 1967-1970

29 Future Conferences, 1969-1970

30 Government Relations, 1969-1971

31 Inter-Association Relations, 1969

32 Joint AEA-NAPSAE, 1960, 1968-1969

33 Legislative Policies, 1969-1972

34 Mainline, 1969

35 Membership and Field Services, 1967-1970

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 7

Inventory (continued)

Box File

1 (continued) Adult Education Association of the U.S.A.

(continued)

Committees (continued)

36 National Program Resources Center, 1969-

1970

37 Nominations and Elections, 1967-1970

38 Publications, 1968-1970

39 Regional Boundaries, 1968

40 Relationships between AEA and its

Affiliates, 1967-1970

41 Resolutions, 1968-1970

42 Social Philosophy, 1968-1970

43 Steering, 1966-1971

Conferences

Annual

44 1962

45 1963

46 1967

47 1968

48 1969

49 1970

50 1971

51 Delegate Assembly, 1967, 1968, 1969

52 Galaxy, 1970

53 1st National Consultation, 1965

54 Constitutions, 1965-1970

Correspondence - General (see Selective

Index)

55 1967-1968

56 1969

57 1970-1971

Councils

58 State Associations, 1969-1970

59 Urban Affiliates, 1970

Handbook of Adult Education, 1970

Chapter Drafts

60 Part I, Chapter 7, "The Educators

of Adults" / Cyril Orvin

Houle

Part III, Chapter 23, "Curriculum

and Content" / Roger W.

Axford

61 1st Copy

62 2nd Copy

63 Part III, Chapter 31, "Self-

Fulfillment" / Glenn Jensen

64 Part IV, Chapter 29, "Continuing

Education in the Professions"

/ Alexander N. Charters

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 8

Inventory (continued)

Box File

1 (continued)

Adult Education Association of the U.S.A.

(continued)

Handbook of Adult Education, 1970 (continued)

65 Chapter Titles and Outlines

1 Correspondence, 1968-1970 (see Selective

Index)

2 Guidelines, 1968

3 Preface, 1969

4 Reference Materials

5 Regional Associations, 1970

Sections

6 Address Lists, 1967-1970

7 Armed Forces Education, 1962, 1969-1970

8 Community College, 1969-1970

9 Community Development, 1970

10 Continuing Education for Women, 1970

11 Correctional Institutions, 1969-1970

12 Graduate Student, 1969-1970

13 Home and Family Life, 1969

14 Liberal Adult Education, 1970

15 Mass Media in Adult Education, 1967-1970

16 Public Affairs Education, 1969

17 Training and Professional Development,

1969-1970

18 Task Force on Common Concerns, 1966

19 Canadian Association for Adult Education, 1964-

1967

20 Florida Adult Education Association, 1958-1970

Florida State University

21 Ad Hoc Committee on Promotion and Tenure

Career Opportunities Program - Site

Visitation Reports

22 Sequatchie County, 1971

23 South Carolina Commission for Farm

Workers, Inc., 1968

24 Walker County, 1971

25 Competency Based Program of In-Service

Teacher Training in Adult Education,

1972

Conferences

26 Louisiana - Arkansas Bi-State

Conference, n.d.

27 New York Association for Continuing

Education, 22nd Annual Conference,

1973

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 9

Inventory (continued)

Box File

2 (continued) Florida State University (continued)

Correspondence - Incoming (see Selective

Index)

28 1958-1967

29 1968 January-February

30 March-April

31 May-June

32 July-August

33 September-October

34 November-December

35 1969 January-February

36 March-April

37 May-June

38 July-August

39 September-October

40 November-December

41 1970 January-February

42 March-April

43 May-June

44 July-August

45 September-October

46 November-December

47 1971 January-February

48 March-April

49 May-June

50 July-August

51 September-October

52 November-December

1 1972 January-February

2 March-April

3 May-June

4 July-August

5 September-October

6 November-December

7 1973 January-February

8 March-April

9 May-June

10 July-August

11 September-October

12 November-December

13 1974 January-February

14 March-April

15 May-June

16 July-August

17 September-October

18 November-December

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 10

Inventory (continued)

Box File

4 Florida State University (continued)

Correspondence - Incoming (continued) (see

Selective Index)

1 1975 January-February

2 March-April

3 May-June

4 July-August

5 September-October

6 November-December

7 1976 January-February

8 March-April

9 May-June

10 July-August

11 September-October

12 November-December

13 1977 January-February

14 March-April

15 May-June

16 July-August

17 September-October

18 November-December

19 1978 January-February

20 March-April

21 May-June

22 July-August

23 September-October

24 November-December

25 1979 January-February

26 March-April

27 May-June

28 July-August

29 September-October

30 November-December

31 1980 January-June

32 July-December

33 1981 January-June

34 July-December

35 1982 January-June

36 July-December

37 1983 January-June

38 July-December

39 1984 January-June

40 July-December

41 1985

Correspondence - Outgoing (see Selective

Index)

1 1958-1964

GEORGE F. AKER PAPERS 11

Inventory (continued)

Box File

5 (continued) Florida State University (continued)

Correspondence - Outgoing (continued)(see

Selective Index)

2 1965-1966

3 1967 January-February

4 March-April

5 May-June

6 July-August

7 September-October

8 November-December

9 1968 January-February

10 March-April

11 May-June

12 July-August

13 September-October

14 November-December

15 1969 January-February

16 March-April

17 May-June

18 July-August

19 September-October

20 November-December

21 1970 January-February

22 March-April

23 May-June

24 July-August

25 September-October

26 November-December

27 1971