A portrait of former Dean of the Lupton Library Dr. Joseph Jackson was recently unveiled on campus. Artist and UTC nursing alumna Elizabeth Adams was commissioned to paint Jackson’s portrait, which is currently on display in the T. Cartter and Margaret Rawlings Lupton Memorial Library.
Jackson became dean of the Lupton Library in 1973. He assumed the duties related to the completion of the facility. In his 22-year tenure, he only missed a half day of work due to illness. “There was just too much work to get done—day and night,” Jakcson said.
Jackson grew the library’s collection from 180,000 volumes to more than 1.5 million items before he retired in 1994. He reclassified the library’s holdings, developed a formal library instruction program, earned the librarians faculty status, and established a permanent archive system for the Fellowship of Southern Writers.
Along with his wife Mary Jackson, who created the UTC School of Nursing, these educators have a great affinity for the University. The Jacksons created the Professor Mary B. Jackson Founders Chair in Nursing to advance higher education practice in information science and excellence in clinical practice.
Additionally, the Jacksons’ legacy includes the Dr. Joseph A. Jackson Endowment for Library Faculty Development, the Mary B. Jackson Nursing Student Award and the Mary B. Jackson Professorship.
