Jackson, Sheldon, 1834-1909

Sheldon Jackson organized pioneer Presbyterian churches and schools in the West and Alaska. He recognized the importance of women's missionary work and helped to establish the Women's Executive Committee in 1878. In 1885, he was appointed as general agent for education in Alaska. In 1891, Jackson was instrumental in introducing reindeer into Alaska to remedy the failing food supply due to whalers. He continued to be active in the church's missionary work until his death.

From the description of Sheldon Jackson collection, 1856-1908 (inclusive) [microform]. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 86093570

Sheldon Jackson was born in Minaville, New York, in 1834. He graduated from Union College, New York in 1855 and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1857. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1857. Following the Civil War, he was assigned to mission work in the Rocky Mountain District and in 1877 he came to Alaska as a missionary. Reverend Jackson spent the rest of thi career working on behalf of Alaskan Natives. While in Alaska, he founded missions at Wrangell, Sitka, Haines, and Prince of Wales Island. In 1885, he was appointed General Agent of Education for Alaska with an office in Washington, D.C. He was instrumental in starting a program of importing reindeer herds from Siberia to Alaska to feed starving natives in 1890-1891. He was the author of "Alaska" and published annual reports on education in Alaska, 1885-1904, and on the reindeer industry in Alaska, 1899-1906. He also wrote numerous articles on the Territory of Alaska for newspapers and magazines. Sheldon Jackson retired in 1908 and died in Washington, D.C., in 1909.

From the description of Papers, 1856-1908 [microform] (UAA/APU Consortium Library). WorldCat record id: 60663598