View source for Sheldon Jackson College

{{short description|Private college in Sitka, Alaska, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox university
|name            =Sheldon Jackson College
|native_name     =
|latin_name      =
|image           =
|motto           =
|established     =1878
|closed          =2007<ref name="sfac"/>
|type            =
|endowment       =
|administrative_staff           =18
|faculty         =17
|president       =
|provost         =
|principal       =
|rector          =
|chancellor      =
|vice_chancellor =
|dean            =
|head_label      =
|head            =
|students        =
|undergrad       =
|postgrad        =
|doctoral        =
|profess         =
|city            =[[Sitka City and Borough, Alaska|Sitka]]
|state           =[[Alaska]]
|country         =[[United States|USA]]
|campus          =Rural
|free_label      =
|free            =
|colors          =
|colours         =
|mascot          =
|nickname        =
|affiliations    =
|footnotes       =
|website         =
|address         =801 Lincoln Street<br />Sitka, AK 99835
|telephone       =
|coor            =
|logo            = [[File:Sheldon Jackson College logo.png]]
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed                          = yes
| name                           = Sheldon Jackson School
| nrhp_type                      = nhld
| image                          = Richard Allen Memorial Hall.jpg
| caption                        = Richard Allen Memorial Hall on the SJC campus
| location                       = 801 Lincoln Street, [[Sitka, Alaska]]
| coordinates                    = {{coord|57.05095|-135.32372|region:US-AK_type:edu|format=dms|display=inline,title,source:ProprioMeOW}}
| locmapin                       = USA Alaska Sitka Downtown#USA Alaska
| area                           = {{convert|13|acre|ha}}
| built                          = 1895
<!-- Note: there are issues with this listing, the asset detail refers to the original Sheldon Jackson Museum single building enlistment, while the form and pictures are relative to the school NHLD nomination, apparently the reference number has not changed and an NRHP has been directly "transformed" into an NHLD -->
| architect                      = <!-- Unknown -->
| architecture                   = <!-- Octagon Mode -->
| designated_nrhp_type           = August 7, 2001<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=998408145&ResourceType=District |title= Sheldon Jackson School |access-date=June 2, 2017|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929192809/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=998408145&ResourceType=District|archive-date=September 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| added                          = February 23, 1972
| refnum                         = 72000193<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2010a}}</ref>{{efn|While the form 72000193 contains NHLD designation for the entire school, the asset detail page still reference the original Sheldon Jackson Museum 1972 single-property enlistment.}}
| designated_other1              = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| designated_other1_name         = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| designated_other1_color        = #A8EDEF
| designated_other1_abbr         = AHRS
| designated_other1_number       = SIT-026
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
| nocat                          = yes
}} }}

'''Sheldon Jackson College''' ('''SJC''') was a small [[Private university|private]] [[college]] located on [[Baranof Island]] in [[Sitka City and Borough, Alaska|Sitka]], [[Alaska]], [[United States]].  Founded in 1878, it was the oldest institution of higher learning in Alaska and maintained a historic relationship with the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian Church]]. The college was named in honor of Rev. [[Sheldon Jackson]], an early [[missionary]] and educational leader in Alaska.

Due to declining enrollment, the college closed in 2007; four years later, ownership of its campus was transferred to the organization behind the [[Sitka Fine Arts Camp]].{{r|"sfac"}} In addition to the fine arts camp, the Sheldon Jackson Museum, the [[Sitka Sound Science Center]], the [[Sitka Summer Music Festival]], the Sitka International Hostel, [[Outer Coast College]], and several other organizations are located in buildings on the campus of the former school. The school buildings are part of the Sheldon Jackson School National Historic Landmark District.

==History==
Similar to the [[Carlisle Indian School]], Sheldon Jackson College (SJC) was initially formed as a "training" school for [[Alaska Native]] boys.<ref name=NNN>National Native News, 15 April 2010, "On This Day".</ref>  The school was founded in 1878 by Fannie Kellogg and future [[List of Governors of Alaska|Governor of Alaska]] [[John G. Brady]] for the [[Tlingit people]].  Initially known as the '''Sitka Industrial and Training School''', it nearly closed in 1882 after its original facility, located over a military barracks, burned down.  The Presbyterian missionary Sheldon Jackson came to the rescue of the school, raising funds through a national campaign, leading to the construction of a new building on the site of the present campus.  In 1910,{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} after Rev. Jackson died, the school was renamed in his honor.

[[Sheldon Jackson]] himself is said to have been very cruel to his students, and it was his belief as well as the belief of the school itself that the language and culture of their students was something that needed to be corrected. He was known to have used quite harsh correctional teaching against students if they spoke in their language, practiced their culture in any way. The goal of the school, and of Sheldon Jackson himself, was the complete erasure of the native cultures of the students.  [https://www.sjvoices.org/sheldon-jackson-high-school.html]

The institution added a [[boarding school|boarding]] [[high school]] in 1917, and a college program in 1944.  The college program gained accreditation in 1966 and the high school was closed the following year.

===Closure===
The school's [[educational accreditation]] was reviewed by the [[Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities]] and State of Alaska, a process that happens nationally with colleges and universities.  About this process, President David Dobler said, "SJC's current authorization to operate as an Alaska post-secondary institution has been extended until July 2006, and SJC, at that time, will be required to provide the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) with documentation of financial and administrative capacity in order for authorization to be renewed."  (Dobler left the office of President in 2002.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sheldonjackson.edu/content/view/77/104|title=Sheldon Jackson College|archive-date=2007-03-15|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070315104017/http://www.sheldonjackson.edu/content/view/77/104|access-date=2011-07-08}}</ref> Similarly, the college was under a "show cause" order from the Northwest Commission and was required to "show cause" why its [[regional accreditation]] should not be revoked.

On June 29, 2007,{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} all academic operations were suspended and all faculty and staff were dismissed due to cash flow shortages. The Board of Trustees gathered all staff and informed them that June 29 would be the final day of employment. They were also informed all health insurance coverage would cease at that time.

On July 17, 2007,{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} the Alaska Commission on Post-secondary Education announced the cancellation of Sheldon Jackson College's authorization to operate a college in Alaska.  The college appealed the decision, but was ultimately shut down.

In March 2008,{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} the official website for the school went off-line. In the summer of 2008, the college opened its dorms and facilities for use by local workers and companies.

In 2010 the school library collection of rare books and artwork was boxed and stored.<ref>[http://aprn.org/2008/08/07/uncertain-future-faces-books-at-the-sheldon-jackson-college-library/ Uncertain future faces books at Sheldon Jackson College library, Andi McDaniel, KCAW - Sitka (audio file)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007132222/http://aprn.org/2008/08/07/uncertain-future-faces-books-at-the-sheldon-jackson-college-library/ |date=October 7, 2008 }}</ref>

On February 1, 2011, the Board of Trustees transferred the main campus to Alaska Arts Southeast, Inc., the non-profit parent organization to the [[Sitka Fine Arts Camp]].<ref name="sfac">{{cite web | url= http://fineartscamp.org/sjc.html | title= Help Sitka Fine Arts Camp Return Home | publisher= Sitka Fine Arts Camp | access-date= 2011-07-08 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726055332/http://fineartscamp.org/sjc.html | archive-date= 2011-07-26 }}</ref><ref>PCUSA.org: [http://www.pcusa.org/news/2011/1/28/arts-program-take-over-sheldon-jackson-college/ "Arts Program To Take Over Sheldon Jackson College"]</ref>

Beginning in 2018, [[Outer Coast College]] students, professors and faculty members have been hosted on the main campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://outercoast.org/summer-seminar-2018.html|title=Summer Seminar 2018 {{!}} Outer Coast|website=outercoast.org|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
* [[Benjamin A. Haldane]] Tsimshian photographer, musician, businessman
* [[Byron Mallott]], Tlingit leader and rights activist, 12th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
* Sandra Marbut, Head Coach of women's basketball at [[California Institute of Technology]]<ref>[http://gocaltech.com/sports/wbkb/coaches/Sandra_Marbut Sandra Marbut Profile]</ref>
* [[Edward Marsden]] Presbyterian minister, [[Tsimshian]] activist
* [[Scott McAdams]], mayor of Sitka, U.S. Senate candidate
* [[Elizabeth Peratrovich]], civil rights activist
* [[Walter Soboleff]], Tlingit scholar, Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand President Emeritus

==Architecture and historic designation==
The Sheldon Jackson Museum was the first building in Alaska built with concrete.  Its octagonal shape may have been influenced by architectural philosophies of [[O.S. Fowler]].{{r|Poulson}}. In 1972, the Sheldon Jackson Museum building was added as a single property to the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in the Alaska panhandle|National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>

[[File:Sheldon Jackson College.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sheldon Jackson College in summer 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ak0336/|title=Sheldon Jackson College, Lincoln Street, Sitka, Sitka Borough, AK|publisher=Library of Congress|work=[[Historic American Buildings Survey]]|access-date=2011-07-08}}</ref>]]
The main campus buildings were designed by the, then just starting, firm of [[Ludlow and Peabody]] of Boston with aspects of western stick style.  Beams were of Douglas fir and design was kept simple and exposed for easy construction and to demonstrate "honesty in building".{{r|Poulson}}

The entire campus, comprising 18 contributing properties and 3 non-contributing buildings, was designated a [[National Historic Landmark District]] in 2001.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/samples/ak/SJackson.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911091631/http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/samples/ak/SJackson.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2008| title= National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Sheldon Jackson School / Sitka Industrial Training School, Sheldon Jackson Institute, Sheldon Jackson College / (AHRS Site No. SIT-026)|date=February 9, 2001 |author=Janet Clemens and Patty Henry |publisher=National Park Service |access-date= 2009-06-27}} and {{NHLS url|id=72000193|title=''Accompanying 19 photos, exterior and interior, from 1935, c.1940, 1998, 2000, and undated.''|photos=y}}&nbsp;{{small|(2.86&nbsp;MB)}}</ref>

===Campus buildings===

The contributing properties to the historic district, built between 1895 and the 1930s, are:
*The Sheldon Jackson Museum, {{coord|57.05054|-135.32252|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Sheldon Jackson Museum)}}, AHRS# SIT-007, built 1895.
*The North Cottage, {{coord|57.05193|-135.32538|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=North Cottage)}}, AHRS# SIT-00254, built 1900.
*The Ceramics Building, also known as the Storehouse, {{coord|57.05168|-135.32359|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Ceramics Building)}}, AHRS# SIT-00553, built 1910-1911.
*The Richard H. Allen Memorial Building, also known as the Allen Memorial Hall and Allen Auditorium, {{coord|57.05157|-135.32307|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Richard H. Allen Memorial Building)}}, AHRS# SIT-00216, built 1910-1911.
*The Whitmore Hall, also known as Home Missions Hall, {{coord|57.05117|-135.32268|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Whitmore Hall)}}, AHRS# SIT-00219, built 1910-1911.
*The Power Plant and Laundry Building, {{coord|57.05105|-135.32219|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Power Plant and Laundry Building)}}, AHRS# SIT-00221, built 1910-1911.
*The Fraser Hall, {{coord|57.05085|-135.32246|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Fraser Hall)}}, AHRS# SIT-00220, built 1910-1911.
*The Stevenson Hall, {{coord|57.05151|-135.3246|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Stevenson Hall)}}, AHRS# SIT-00217, built 1911.
*The North Pacific Hall, {{coord|57.05157|-135.32393|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=North Pacific Hall)}}, AHRS# SIT-00218, built 1911.
*The Nancy Craig Cottage, {{coord|57.04994|-135.32225|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Nancy Craig Cottage)}}, AHRS# SIT-00253, built 1914.
*The Ocean Vista Cottage, also known as the Presbyterian Manse, {{coord|57.04944|-135.32215|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Ocean Vista Cottage)}}, AHRS# SIT-00215, built 1914.
*The West Cottage, {{coord|57.05137|-135.32559|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=West Cottage)}}, AHRS# SIT-00251, built 1915.
*The Houk House, also known as the Lottie Hapgood Practice Cottage, {{coord|57.05139|-135.32517|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Houk House)}}, AHRS# SIT-00223, built 1918.
*The Tillie Paul Manor, also known as the Infirmary, {{coord|57.05177|-135.32504|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Tillie Paul Manor)}}, AHRS# SIT-00222, built 1926.
*The Ada F. Pears Cottage, {{coord|57.04966|-135.32284|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Ada F. Pears Cottage)}}, AHRS# SIT-00255, built 1926.
*The Sage Building, {{coord|57.04978|-135.32357|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Sage Building)}}, AHRS# SIT-00224, built 1929.
*The Sawmill, {{coord|57.04951|-135.32342|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Sawmill)}}, AHRS# SIT-00554, built in the 1930s.
*The Quadrangle area, {{coord|57.05108|-135.32358|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW|name=Quadrangle)}}, AHRS# SIT-00566.
{{GeoGroup|section=History}}
Additional campus buildings are:
*Stratton Library, built 1974.{{r|Blackson}}

==Stratton Library==
Stratton Library was an academic library at the college. Prior to the construction of the building the university's collection was held in the Yaw Building.  Prior to the 1955 construction of the Yaw Building, the books were held in a prefabricated army building that had been abandoned and moved onto campus in 1947.{{r|Yaw}}{{rp|120–3}}  The Stratton library building contained 48,000 items in its collection with over 10 percent of all material being directly related to [[History of Alaska|Alaska's history]], including many first edition books and rare periodicals. In December 2010 the collection was broken up. Rare glass plate [[Photographic negative#Negative film|photographic negative]]s were loaned to the [[National Park Service]], other "Alaskana" was split among local public and academic libraries, and the remainder of the collection was offered for sale to the general public. The building itself was sold to the State of Alaska.{{r|Woolsey}}

==Sheldon Jackson Museum==
The Sheldon Jackson Museum is a [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] museum located on the former campus of Sheldon Jackson College. Many of the artifacts were originally collected by Rev. [[Sheldon Jackson]] in his travels through rural Alaska. Sheldon Jackson Museum was founded in 1887, making it the oldest museum in the state of Alaska.<ref name="ASM">{{cite web |title=History of the Sheldon Jackson Museum |url=https://museums.alaska.gov/sheldon_jackson/sjhistory.html |website=Alaska State Museums |publisher=State of Alaska |access-date=2023-08-25}}</ref>  When it outgrew its temporary quarters, a new specially dedicated concrete structure was constructed between 1895 and 1897 and, upon completion, became the first concrete structure built in Alaska.<ref name="SAH">{{cite web |last1=Hoagland |first1=Allison K. |title=Sheldon Jackson Museum |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/AK-01-SE046 |website=SAH Archipedia |publisher=Society of Architectural Historians |access-date=2023-08-25}}</ref><ref name="ASM" />

The museum, collection, and grounds are owned and administered by the State of Alaska.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/alaska-considers-selling-historic-museum-to-save-money/|title=Alaska considers selling historic museum to save money|date=March 11, 2019|website=[[The Seattle Times]]|language=en-US|access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="ASM" /> Organized within the [[Alaska Department of Education & Early Development]], Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, the Sheldon Jackson Museum was purchased by the State in the mid-1980s during the administration of Governor [[Bill Sheffield]].

===Collection===
Over 5,000 artifacts are housed in the museum. 1,800 are on permanent display in the gallery. Over 3,000 of the objects were originally collected by Rev. [[Sheldon Jackson]] in his travels throughout Alaska. The museum's collection exclusively focus on [[Alaska Natives|Alaskan Native]] groups such as the [[Aleut people|Aleut]]s, [[Athabaskan languages|Athabascan]]s, [[Eskimo]]s, and [[Tlingit people|Tlingit]]/[[Tsimshian]].

An affiliated advocacy group, Friends of the Sheldon Jackson Museum, sponsors several museum programs including the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program during the summer months and the Share Your Culture/ Share Your Research speaker series during the winter.

==See also==
{{Portal|Alaska}}
{{Commons Category|Sheldon Jackson College}}
*[[List of National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|refs=
<ref name=Poulson>{{cite speech
 |title= The Architecture of Sheldon Jackson Campus, from Phrenology to Academic Eclecticism
 |first=James
 |last=Poulson
 |location=Sitka, Alaska
 |date=18 September 2019
}}</ref>
<ref name=Yaw>{{cite book
 | last =Yaw
 | first =Leslie
 | title =Sixty Years in Sitka
 | publisher =Sheldon Jackson College Press
 | date =1985
 }}</ref>
<ref name=Blackson>{{Citation
 | last1 =Blackson
 | first1 =Ginny
 | last2 =Olshousen
 | first2 =Mattias
 | title =Saving the Stratton: The Fate of the Sheldon Jackson College Library Collection
 | journal =PNLA Quarterly
 | volume =81
 | issue =2
 | pages =29–36
 | year =2017
 | url =https://arc.lib.montana.edu/ojs/index.php/pnla/issue/view/30/26
}}</ref>
<ref name=Woolsey>{{cite news
 | last =Woolsey
 | first =Robert
 | title =Book sale brings end to Stratton Library story
 | newspaper =KCAW News
 | location =Sitka, Alaska
 | date =22 December 2010
 | url =https://www.kcaw.org/2010/12/22/book-sale-brings-end-to-stratton-library-story/
 | access-date = 19 September 2019}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Sheldon Jackson College}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sheldonjackson.edu/|title=Official College website}} (sheldonjackson.edu)
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sj-alaska.edu|title=Official College website}} (sj-alaska.edu)
* [http://www.museums.state.ak.us/sheldon_jackson/sjhome.html Sheldon Jackson Museum] - official website
{{Sitka, Alaska}}
{{NRHP in Alaska by borough and census area}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sitka, Alaska]]
[[Category:Defunct schools in Alaska]]
[[Category:Defunct private universities and colleges in Alaska]]
[[Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1878]]
[[Category:Institutions accredited by the American Alliance of Museums]]
[[Category:Museums in Sitka, Alaska]]
[[Category:Native American museums in Alaska]]
[[Category:1878 establishments in Alaska]]
[[Category:2007 disestablishments in Alaska]]
[[Category:Octagonal school buildings in the United States]]