Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Partnership gives Jackson collection a new home

Photos and story by James Hill

CASCADE CAMPUS – A partnership between Portland Community College and the Oregon Historical Society has helped preserve the beloved collection of the late Rev. John H. Jackson and other mementos of the Cascade Community History Center.Jackson’s papers were housed at Terrell Hall, but with ongoing construction projects, the collection was moved to the Oregon historical Society until September 2005. Upon completion of the bond construction work, it will move back to Room 202 of Terrell Hall at the Cascade Campus, 705 Killingsworth St. The rest of the Center’s collection will eventually return to Terrell Hall 201.Jackson Hall was named after the late reverend, who was the pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in northeast Portland and served as director of the board of the Albina Ministerial Alliance. The building received a renovaton and new wing, which was completed in September. It adds approximately 17,500 square feet of space and contains six new science labs and four new classrooms."Rev. Jackson believed that without faith, work was empty,"said PCC board member Harold Williams. "This building is proof of work and faith. Rev. Jackson was active at all times and made sure cultures within this community were speaking to one another. If you didn’t meet this powerful man, you missed quite a treat. This building adds to the legacy of the creative work he was known for."The partnership was agreed upon by Mildred Ollee, former Cascade executive dean, and John Pierce, director of the historical society, in August. The collection consists of Rev. Jackson’s sermons and memorabilia, an interpretive display, videotapes, biography, and donated books from his personal library.Call 503-978-5574 for more information.