Ellen D. Jackson (1825-1902) was the fifth daughter of William Jackson (1783-1855) and Mary Bennett Jackson. She was a writer, amateur artist and an ardent humanitarian. Her Annals of the Jackson Homestead preserve the only written record of William Jacksons activity with the Underground Railroad.

She was a strong supporter of both Hampton and Tuskegee Institutes and the founder and President of the Newton Freedmans Aid Society, which donated "thousands of dollars worth of household linen and clothing for indigent students". She was President of the Society for thirty seven years, carrying on with this work until her death in 1902.

The collection consists of Ellens storybooks and sketchbooks including Marm Harris and Marm Mills dated 1891, Old Loker dated 1982, The Life of Major T. Jackson dated 1892 and the original Annals of the Jackson Homestead dated 1840-1894 and multiple typescript copies.

Of particular interest to botanists and naturalists, Ellens undated sketchbooks contain splendid watercolor drawings depicting the diverse flora and fauna to be found in New England at that time. Some of the drawings are signed by Sarah D. Gilbert and Caroline Bennett Jackson whose papers are also at the Jackson Homestead.

No. of boxes: 1 MS box
Finding Aids: Manuscript box/inventory