The Sheldon Jackson Collection consists mainly of material relating to Jackson’s missionary work in Alaska. It contains correspondence, reports, published and other written material by or about Sheldon Jackson (1834-1909). The bulk of the material dates from 1878-1908 and is contained in 38 boxes. Most, though not all, of the material in the collection has been digitized and is available through the links below.

For more information about the collection, please view the complete finding aid.

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Contents

The Sheldon Jackson Manuscript Collection is divided into three series. Series I, Correspondence to and from Sheldon Jackson, contains correspondence and materials related to schools in Alaska, correspondence concerning women’s work and home missions, and carbon copies of typewritten letters from 1889-1908. These letters are arranged in chronological order, and an index precedes each volume of the correspondence.

Series II, Published and Miscellaneous Papers by Jackson, holds the complete files of the monthly newspaper, The North Star. This newspaper was “published in the interest of schools and missions in Alaska” by Sheldon Jackson at Sitka, Alaska from December 1887 through December 1892. These files total 230 pages, together with 90 leaves of plates and 14 pencil drawings detailing life in late 19th century Alaska. Box 28 holds four file-folders of miscellaneous material by or about Sheldon Jackson.

Series III, Correspondence Labeled “Pioneer Missions” and Published Reports, includes 22 volumes of pioneer missions correspondence. The frontispiece in each volume of correspondence reads: “Preserved and copied by Sheldon Jackson, Washington, D. C., 1904.” Volumes 21 and 22 were compiled in the year 1908, as indicated by their frontispieces. The full, official title of each is, Correspondence Relating to Pioneer Presbyterian Missions West of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and in Alaska: 1856-1908. Each volume (except # 17, half-size) runs to approximately 400 pages of typescript. Some letters are to and from Sheldon Jackson or members of his family. Many are letters between and among other missionaries of the era, most if not all of who were probably known personally by Jackson. Several volumes contain copies of Jackson’s prefatory note entitled, “The Reason Why.” This explains his motive and method for compiling these volumes. All the volumes are available in microfilm in the archives of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The reports on the introduction of reindeer into Alaska at the end of the collection are written by Jackson, and reprinted for subsequent sessions of the Senate. At the time, Jackson was the head of education in Alaska. One volume on the state of education in Alaska is also included in Box 36.

Not all materials in the collection have been digitized. Some items are excluded due to copyright restrictions, privacy considerations, or physical condition. The complete collection is housed in Special Collections and Archives in Wright Library at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Manuscript Collection

Additional materials related to Sheldon Jackson and missionary work in Alaska are available from other institutions, such as the Presbyterian Historical Society.

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