Jackson, Willis Carl, 1923-

Collector of aviatin history materials.

American librarian.

W. Carl Jackson was born on 20 May 1923 in Beverly, Massachusetts. He received a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Library Science from Florida State University in 1951 and 1952 respectively. He then began a lifelong career in the library profession, including serving as Dean of Libraries at Indiana University, Bloomington, from 1973-80. Jackson loved sailing and in 1978 he fulfilled his lifelong dream of sailing solo across the Atlantic. In 1981, he set sail from Europe to America but was lost at sea. He was later declared officially dead after wreckage from his boat was found off the coast of Spain.

Carl Jackson (1923-1981) was a librarian, author, and sailor. He was also known for sailing solo across the Atlantic in his yacht, the Carla Mia. He was lost at sea during a similar sailing attempt in 1981.

W. Carl Jackson served as Dean of the Libraries at Indiana University 1973-1980.

After earning his MA in Library Science in 1952, Jackson held a number of librarian positions around the country before ending up at IU. Jackson was involved with several professional organizations and held positions in many of them including the American Library Association and its Resources and Technical Services Division, the Midwest Region Library Network and EDUCOM. Outside of his professional activities, Jackson was well-known for his love of sailing. In 1978 he fulfilled a lifelong dream to set sail on a solo journey across the Atlantic on his yacht, the Carla Mia. Later he recounted his experiences in The log of the Carla Mia. In 1981 during an attempt to repeat the journey, but launching in Europe, Jackson was lost at sea and declared legally dead after wreckage from his boat was found off the coast of Spain.

Willis Carl Jackson (1923- ) sailed solo across the Atlantic. He also set sail from Europe to America but was lost at sea and died.

Willis Carl Jackson was born 20 May 1923 in Beverly, Massachusetts. He received a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Library Science from Florida State University in 1951 and 1952 respectively. He then began a lifelong career in the library profession, including serving as Dean of Libraries at Indiana University, Bloomington, from 1973-1980. Jackson loved sailing and in 1978 he fulfilled his lifelong dream of sailing solo across the Atlantic. In 1981, he set sail from Europe to America but was lost at sea. He was later declared officially dead after wreckage from his boat was found off the coast of Spain.

W. (Willis) Carl Jackson was born May 20, 1923 in Beverly, Massachusetts. After having received his B.A. in History at Florida State University in 1951 and his M.A. in Library Science at Florida State University in 1952, he began his extensive career in the library profession.

His employment included Assistant Order Librarian at the University of Tennessee, 1952-54; Head, Order Department, University of Iowa, 1954-55; Head, Acquisitions Department, University of Iowa, 1955-57; Chief Acquisitions Librarian, University of Minnesota, 1957-63; Associate Director of Libraries, University of Colorado, 1963-66; Director of Libraries, Pennsylvania State University, 1966-72; and Dean of Libraries, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1973-80.

Jackson was involved with several professional organization activities. He was a life member of the American Library Association and chaired several ALA committees. He served as President of the Resources and Technical Services Division of ALA, 1969-70, and was a member of the ALA Council, 1975-79. In 1975 he began his leadership in the founding of the Midwest Regional Library Network (MIDLNET). During 1966-1974, Jackson served on EDUCOM Board of Directors and the Editorial Advisory Committee. He was also involved with the U.S. COSATI Panel on Library Programs, the Task Group on Cooperative Technology for Academic and Research Libraries, and the Mid-Atlantic Library Information Network (MARLIN), among others. Jackson was also a consultant for several university libraries in the U.S. and abroad.

Jackson was well-known for his love of sailing. In 1978 he fulfilled a lifelong dream to set sail on a solo journey across the Atlantic on his yacht, the "Carla Mia," named for his daughter Carla. After the journey, Jackson received a heroic homecoming. He later recounted his experiences during the solo crossing in "The Log of the Carla Mia." In 1981 during an attempt to sail the opposite direction from Europe to America, Jackson was lost at sea and declared legally dead after wreckage from his boat was found off the coast of Spain.