Table of Contents

Historical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Separations List

Administrative Information

Collection Inventory

Subject Headings

Inventory of the Reverend William Jackson Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Historical Note

Reverend William Jackson (1818-1900) was born in Norfolk, Virginia. In Philadelphia he earned his license to preach in 1842. He first arrived in New Bedford in 1850, his church work involved extensive travelling and he eventually settled down in New Bedford, Massachusetts with his wife, Jane Jackson. William was affiliated with the Second Baptist Church and the Salem Baptist Church, both located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Reverend Jackson was an abolitionist and friend of Frederick Douglass. Before the Civil War Jackson was a known agent for the Underground Railroad.

Reverend Jackson served in the 54th and 55th Regiments from Massachusetts. When he became the chaplain of the 55th Regiment he, likely, became the first African-American officer in the United States Army. He served in the war from 1863 to 1864 when he resigned his commission and returned to New Bedford, Massachusetts.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection contains the personal papers of Reverend William Jackson, the collection spans the years 1842 to 1934, 1999, 2018. The largest portion of the collection consists of correspondence to Reverend Jackson from his wife, Jane Jackson. There is additional correspondence to Reverend Jackson from other family members, friends, acquaintances, and church members. Much of the correspondence concerns family matters, health related issues, financial matters, and church affairs. The involvement of Reverend Jackson in the Underground Railroad is mentioned in a letter dated October 23, 1850. In a letter from 1853, a slave from Virginia wrote to Reverend Jackson seeking help regarding his children that had been sold.

In addition to Rev. Jackson’s personal correspondence, the collection also contains his personal journal, spanning the years 1848-1886. Rev. Jackson records his thoughts, travels, and work related business in the journal with the bulk of the entries spanning the years 1850-1862. Rev. Jackson also writes of various church services he performed during that time. The journal contained several loose pieces of paper with dates ranging from 1855-1877, often related to marriage ceremonies he performed. There is also an additional journal for the years 1855-1862 along with a separate ledger in the collection that contains Rev. Jackson’s notes on baptisms, marriages, and funeral services he performed during the years 1878-1883 in New York, Newark (NJ), Providence (RI), and New Bedford (MA).

The church related materials in the collection span the years 1842 to 1873. These materials reflect many different activities that Reverend Jackson undertook on behalf of the church. He earned his license to preach in 1842, which is included in the collection, and he participated in church activities in many different locations in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The collection includes printed and hand-written sermons. The church related materials also include a printed image of the Church of the Meeting Street Baptist Society in Providence (RI), a printed image of the Second Baptist Church of New Bedford with Rev. Jackson’s portrait, the “Constitution of the Union Meeting of Baptist Churches” and the minutes from the quarterly meetings of the Union from September 27, 1862 to December 29, 1866. The collection also contains two books of thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes, written for Reverend Jackson. The books span the years 1855 to 1893.

The collection also contains military and government documents related to Reverend Jackson and his service in the Civil War. Included is a document from the City of Philadelphia, notarized in 1832, signifying Rev. Jackson’s status as an African-American man who was born free. The original paperwork for the Reverend’s “Invalid Pension” awarded to him for his service, is included. The booklet “Rebellion Record” is in his military and government records. This booklet gives a chronological history of significant events of the Civil War and was inscribed by a serviceman from the 5th Cavalry on May 5, 1864. The correspondence includes a letter from members of the 55th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, where Reverend Jackson was serving as the Chaplain. Jackson’s fellow service members were addressing some complaints. The collection also contains his 1863 Muster-in Roll from the 55th Regiment, his Rhode Island Militia documents, a copy of the program for the 1999 dedication ceremony of the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Plaza in New Bedford (MA), and a certificate commemorating Reverend William Jackson Day which was held in New Bedford, Massachusetts on August 18, 2018.

The bills and receipts consist of receipts for membership dues to the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R), and a receipt for a newspaper subscription.

Jane Jackson, wife of Reverend William Jackson, is present in the collection in a few pieces of printed materials in addition to her certificate of marriage to Rev. Jackson, 1837. There is also a book, Testament and Psalms, which was presented as a gift to Jane from William. He wrote an inscription inside that says “Mrs. Jane Jackson, Presented to her by her Husband, William Jackson, Jan. 16th, 1863, New Bedford.” Book has been removed to Printed Collection and shelved accordingly, accessible through the library catalog.

Included in the collection are a few pieces from Mary A. Jackson, the daughter of Reverend William Jackson in addition to material related to the entire Jackson family. These materials consist of vital records (birth, death, and marriages) of members of the Jackson and Youngblood families as well as property records for Henry Jackson in Norfolk (VA), dated 1802. These papers also include a certificate from the City of New Bedford commemorating Bertha Marsh Jackson’s graduation from the Middle Street Grammar School in New Bedford, 1897.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to Collections

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 171, [sub-group, series, sub-series, folder/volume as appropriate], [item]

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 United States Code 552a) governs the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include:

If the researcher later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the researcher is personally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement and agrees to indemnify the New Bedford Whaling Museum from any legal action as a result of the error. Permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document does not indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from the document without permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded.

Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead, from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g. employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use."

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy law. This institution also places restrictions on the use of cameras, photocopiers, and scanners in the research room.

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Separations List

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Administrative Information

Provenance

Materials in this collection were donated to the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library by the Jackson/Youngblood family on 12 June 2018 (2018.39, formerly L2003.1), the Youngblood family on 4 February 2019 (2019.12), and Valerie L. White on 7 September 2019 (2019.66).

Processing Information

Processed by: Andrew J. Castrenze and Mark Procknik, 2018-2020

Encoded by: Andrew J. Castrenze and Mark Procknik, 2018-2020

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Collection Inventory

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Subject Headings

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