H. James “Jim” Jackson, founder of Jackson’s International Auctioneers & Appraisers of Antiques and Fine Art, died on August 9, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 78.
Locally, Jim Jackson was known by the many different hats he wore: teacher, elementary school principal, civic and church volunteer, antique appraiser, lecturer and auctioneer. Regardless of how one knew him, all remember his infectious and sincere smile, his wealth of freely shared knowledge and his ardent desire to assist everyone and anyone who needed help in anyway.
Wisconsin antiques dealer and ISA appraiser Karen Halboth, said, “I learned a lifetime of information about antiques and life in general from Jim, simply by attending his auctions. He was one of those rare individuals who shared his knowledge freely and would always make time to assist in identifying an item or lend a hand. His generosity was only surpassed by his honesty.”
A native Iowan, Jim was born on his parents’ farm near Bagley in December of 1930. His interest in antiques was fostered by his grandmother and parents, with whom he began attending country auctions at the age of 5.
Jim received his BA in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1952. Jim and his family moved to southern Germany (Augsburg) where he taught school for five years. Jim took advantage of the cultural opportunities available and traveled extensively on the continent while at the same time developing a fluency in German.
Upon his return to the United States in 1962, Jim earned his MA in educational administration and began collecting vintage American toys. His love of teaching combined with his love of history and antiques soon found him on the Midwest lecture circuit presenting programs to a variety of cultural and civic organizations on the topic of antiques and collecting.
Jim began trading in antiques to supplement his “educator’s” income. Soon his knowledge of antiques and his honest reputation caught the attention of local law firms and trust departments, who sought him out to produce personal property appraisals. This lead to fiduciaries asking Jim to help sell such merchandise, which Jim did by holding small local onsite estate auctions. Thus was the foundation laid for what would eventually become Jackson’s International.
Although it was really never his intent, Jim’s business blossomed into a small but growing enterprise, eventually requiring the need of full-time employees and a facility.
“I really never intended or better yet envisioned it would get as big as we did, it just sort of happened,” said Jackson in a 1999 interview. By 1980 Jim and his staff conducted an average of about 40 auctions yearly, mostly smaller, onsite estate auctions. Later on, and with the addition of a rented facility, consignment auctions combined with onsite auctions filling the calendar.
In 1993, two years prior to retiring from a 35-year career as an elementary school principal, Jackson sold the company to his son James L. Jackson, who reentered the auction world where he had worked for many years while growing up. Son James quickly expanded the facility and repositioned the company with a regional/national focus on higher end fine art and antiques now with peak annual sales approaching the $10 million mark.
In a 2006 interview. Jim Jackson Sr reflected, “I am amazed at how the company grew. I am also amazed at the outstanding world-class roster of employees.” He continued, “To be certain, I was never the consummate marketer and businessman my son is †he’s the real genius †rather my real joy came from simply being able to share a bit of obscure information about an old apple peeler or the like to a fledgling collector or dealer as I was up on the block selling; I guess that’s the teacher in me.”
Jim was a recognized leader in both the areas of antiques and auctioneering and elementary education, with an emphasis on the needs of the handicapped, and he wrote and lectured extensively on both subjects. Dr Susan K. Sheerwood, professor of education at Wartburg College, said about Jackson, “He was by far the most influential person in my life †the personification of both a master educator and true gentleman. His likes will never be seen again.”
Outside the world of antiques and auctions, Jim was known as a passionate advocate for the poor, marginalized, underprivileged and the handicapped. He served on numerous local, state and national organizations and received awards for his unfailing work in this area.
Jim was a member of the National Auctioneers Association, the International Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America, to name a few of his affiliations.
He was also an active 45-year member of Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Cedar Falls, where he served in many different capacities over the past four decades. He is survived by his wife Joan of 57 years, four children and 13 grandchildren.
James L. Jackson, reflecting upon his father’s legacy, said, “For anyone who really knew my father, they know that his real legacy in life rests not in antiques, or auctioneering or even education per-se, but rather his is a legacy of love, especially for the marginalized. More than anything else my father felt a profound connection with the down and out, something that was fostered by his very deep and personal faith; he was blessed in having a partner for 57 years who shared an equal passion and love of God.”
