April 2, 2009
Founder of Canadian Studies at the UW dies
The Canadian Studies Center is gathering material for a Web page dedicated to its founder, W.A. Douglas Jackson, who died March 9 at age 85. Contributions such as remembrances and photographs are welcome.
“Doug was truly the heart and soul of Canadian Studies, dedicating decades of his life to building one of the finest centers in the nation,” said Nadine Fabbi, associate director of the Canadian Studies Center.
A native of Toronto, Jackson once dreamed of becoming a concert pianist, and received a degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. However, according to his great-nephew Karl Potter, Jackson ultimately decided academic teaching and research were more practical.
In 1953, Jackson received a doctorate in geography from the University of Maryland, where his studies included Canadian history and Soviet geography.
Two years later he arrived at the UW, eventually becoming associate director of Russian and East European Studies. In 1986, Jackson spearheaded a National Resource Center on Canada at the UW, using the first Canadian studies grant from the U.S. Department of Education. He directed the Canadian Studies Center for more than 12 years, lecturing as recently as this past fall.
His books include The Geography of Politics, The Russo-Chinese Borderlands and The Shaping of Our World: Human and Cultural Geography.
“Doug packed many lives into a single lifetime. A scholar, teacher, colleague, administrator, musician and witty, charming person,” said Anand Yang, director of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the UW.
Material for the Web page should be directed to canada@u.washington.edu.
Additionally, the Center plans to grow its Douglas Jackson Scholarship Fund. Contributions should be directed to the Canadian Studies Center, Box 353650, UW, Seattle, WA, 98195.
Later this spring at the University, the UW geography department and the center will host a Jackson memorial.
