Charles W. Akers
Encyclopedia
Charles Wesley Akers was an historian, author, and educator.
, Indiana
to Ira and Mary Bird Akers. Akers received his Bachelor's degree
in History
from the Eastern Nazarene College
in 1947. He received his Master's degree
and Ph.D.
from Boston University
.
and served from 1942 to 1946 in the Second World War.
He began his career in education by teaching in the history department at his alma mater, the Eastern Nazarene College
starting in 1948, took a leave of absence in 1957 to become the Director of Quincy Junior College, and left ENC in 1959. His next teaching position was at Geneva College
in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
. He began teaching history at Oakland University
in 1966 and was appointed as chair of the history department there in 1968. He retired from OU in 1995 and was named professor emeritus of history there.
He was a member of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts
, the American Historical Association
, the Organization of American Historians
, an Associate of Early American History and Culture, and received the Oakland University Excellence in Research Award and the Distinguished Faculty Award of the Michigan Association of Governing Boards.
(Boston) in 1980, republished by Addison Wesley Longman (New York) in 2000, and called one of the three best books about Abigail Adams. He is also known for Called unto Liberty: A Life of Jonathan Mayhew, 1720-1766 and The Divine Politician, a biography of Samuel Cooper that won the American Revolution Roundtable Award.
Early life and education
Charles was born in IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
to Ira and Mary Bird Akers. Akers received his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from the Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
in 1947. He received his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
.
Career
Akers was a U.S. Navy veteranVeteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
and served from 1942 to 1946 in the Second World War.
He began his career in education by teaching in the history department at his alma mater, the Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
starting in 1948, took a leave of absence in 1957 to become the Director of Quincy Junior College, and left ENC in 1959. His next teaching position was at Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
. He began teaching history at Oakland University
Oakland University
Oakland University is a public university co-founded by Matilda Dodge Wilson and John A. Hannah whose campus is located in central Oakland County, Michigan, United States in the cities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills. It is the only major research university in Oakland County, from which OU...
in 1966 and was appointed as chair of the history department there in 1968. He retired from OU in 1995 and was named professor emeritus of history there.
He was a member of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts
Colonial Society of Massachusetts
The Colonial Society of Massachusetts is a US non-profit educational foundation, founded in 1892, and established for the study of the history of Massachusetts. The period of study is from its settlement through the early nineteenth century. It is a member of the New England Regional Fellowship...
, the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
, the Organization of American Historians
Organization of American Historians
The Organization of American Historians , formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S...
, an Associate of Early American History and Culture, and received the Oakland University Excellence in Research Award and the Distinguished Faculty Award of the Michigan Association of Governing Boards.
Published works
Akers' best known published work is Abigail Adams, an American Woman, published by Little, Brown and CompanyLittle, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
(Boston) in 1980, republished by Addison Wesley Longman (New York) in 2000, and called one of the three best books about Abigail Adams. He is also known for Called unto Liberty: A Life of Jonathan Mayhew, 1720-1766 and The Divine Politician, a biography of Samuel Cooper that won the American Revolution Roundtable Award.