Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Ackerson, Fred Morris and University Archives
- Abstract:
- Diaries and personal papers of Fred M. Ackerson which document life in Niagara County, New York, and a professional legal and judicial career in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Also includes diaries of Fred's wife and parents and those of his son, Charles F. Ackerson who lived in Olean, (Cattaraugus County) New York.
- Extent:
- 17.2087 Linear Feet and 3 manuscript boxes, 3 legal manuscript boxes, 1 flat box, 11 cartons, 2 folders, 1 oversize box
- Language:
- Collection material in English.
- Preferred citation:
[Description and dates], Box/folder number, Ackerson Family Papers, 1864-1996, University Archives, State University of New York at Buffalo.
See the Special Collections' preferred citations instructions for additional information.
Background
- Scope and Content:
Collection includes extensive diaries from 1872-1968 of Fred Ackerson and his parents, Charles F. and Mary Jane Nellist Ackerson, and his second wife, Elizabeth V. Ackerson. Diaries include clippings and photographs of people and places in Niagara County, New York. Also included are personal papers of Fred M. Ackerson which document his personal, political, and professional life as an orator, teacher, lawyer, Niagara County District Attorney, and judge on the New York Court of Claims from 1915 to 1940. Continuing the family story are diaries from 1971 to 1996 of Fred's son, Charles F. Ackerson, who was a high school math teacher and civil engineer/surveyor in Olean, (Cattaraugus County) New York.
- Biographical / Historical:
Fred Morris Ackerson was born June 6, 1866 to Charles F. Ackerson and Mary Jane Nellist Ackerson. Raised in the Town of Somerset, Niagara County, New York he attended the University of Buffalo Law School and had a long career as practicing attorney, Niagara County District Attorney, and judge on the New York State Court of Claims. In 1892 he married Evangeline Hotaling who died in 1905. They had one child, Leah, born December 4, 1893. In 1909 he married Elizabeth C. Vogt. They had three children: Mary Elizabeth, born July 17, 1910; Charles Frederick, born October 7, 1911; and Alda Katherine, born May 25, 1913. Leah Ackerson Handte, widow of New York violinist Frederick Handte, was a teacher at the Friends Academy in Locust Valley, Long Island, New York. Charles F. Ackerson married Jean Tothill and was a high school math teacher and civil engineer/surveyor in Olean, New York.
Date Event 1837 Fred's father Charles Frederic Ackerson born1843 Fred's mother Mary Jane Nellist Ackerson born1866 Fred M. Ackerson born June 6, 1866, Town of Somerset, Niagara County, New York[approximately 1873 - 1881] Attended District Schools No. 8 and 16, Town of Somerset1881-1882 Somerset Academic School, Somerset Corners1883-1884 Yates Academy, Orleans County1884-1889 Brockport Normal School, graduating in Classical CoursePrincipal and teacher at Somerset School Districts 2 and 15, 1887-1888September 1889 Began clerking in the law offices of John E. and Cuthbert W. Pound1890 Federal census enumerator, Town of Somerset1890-1892 University of Buffalo Law School, Bachelor of Law degreeAdmitted to the bar, June 18921892 Married Evangeline Hotaling on August 10, 1892, daughter of Doctor and Mrs. Irving W. Hotaling of Somerset, New York1892-1894 Practiced law in Buffalo, New York with Judge William W. Hammond and Charles S. Hatch (Hammond, Hatch & Ackerson)1893 Daughter Leah born December 4, 18931894-1915 Practiced law in Niagara Falls, New York [from 1900 to 1915 in partnership with Judge John O. Chapin]1896 Elected Justice of the Peace, City of Niagara Falls1899 Appointed to the City of Niagara Falls, Board of Education by Mayor Arthur C. Hastings1902-1907 Assistant District Attorney, Niagara County1904 Fred's father Charles Frederic Ackerson died October 28, 19041905 Evangeline Hotaling Ackerson died1907 Elected District Attorney, Niagara County1909 Married Elizabeth C. Vogt, daughter of Jacob B. and Mary S. Whitney Vogt, June 29, 19091910 Daughter Mary Elizabeth born July 17, 1910Re-elected District Attorney, Niagara County1911 Son Charles Frederick born October 7, 19111913 Re-elected District Attorney, Niagara CountyDaughter Alda Katherine born May 25, 1913 (died 1924)1915-1936 Appointed a judge on the New York Court of Claims, February 16, 1915, by Governor Charles S. Whitman.Presiding Judge, 1916-1929Retired December 31, 1936 because of age limit1937 Fred's mother Mary J. Ackerson died October 3, 19371937-1940 Appointed Official Referee of the Court of Claims by the Justices of the Appellate Division, Supreme Court, Fourth Department, February 26, 1937Designated Acting Judge of Court of Claims by presiding judge James J. Barrett, March 1937Retired due to health, September 30, 19401956 Fred M. Ackerson died December 28, 19561968 Elizabeth V. Ackerson (Fred's 2nd wife) died November 29, 19681996 Son Charles F. Ackerson died April 10, 1996- Acquisition information:
- Collection was donated by Anne W. Ackerson, Fred Ackerson's granddaughter in March and July 2010.
- Processing information:
Processed by Karen Spencer, April 2010. Additional materials processed and finding aid updated, July 2010.
- Arrangement:
This collection is arranged in seven series:
- I. Fred M. Ackerson, Diaries
- II. Fred M. Ackerson, Papers
- III. Elizabeth Vogt Ackerson
- IV. Charles F. Ackerson
- V. Mary Jane Nellist Ackerson
- VI. Charles F. Ackerson
- VII. Ackerson Family Scrapbook
- Accruals:
No further accruals are expected to this collection.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed Terms
- Subjects:
- Public prosecutors -- New York (State)
Judges -- New York (State)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Diaries
Photographs
Scrapbooks - Names:
- University Archives
University of Buffalo. School of Law
Ackerson family -- Archives
Ackerson, Charles F.
Ackerson, Charles F.
Ackerson, Elizabeth V.
Ackerson, Mary J.
Ackerson, Fred Morris -- Archives - Places:
- Niagara County (N.Y.) -- History -- 19th century
Niagara County (N.Y.) -- History -- 20th century
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
The Ackerson Family Papers are open for research.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Description and dates], Box/folder number, Ackerson Family Papers, 1864-1996, University Archives, State University of New York at Buffalo.
See the Special Collections' preferred citations instructions for additional information.
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
- CONTACT:
-
716-645-2916lib-archives@buffalo.edu