George H. Atkinson
Encyclopedia
George Henry Atkinson was an American
missionary and educator in what would become the state of Oregon
. In Oregon, he served as a pastor for several churches, helped found what would become Pacific University
, and pushed for legislation to create a public school system in Oregon Territory
. The Massachusetts
native later served as the county schools superintendent in Clackamas and Multnomah counties.
. After attending Bradford Academy and Newbury Academies, he then moved to Hanover, New Hampshire
. There he attended Dartmouth College
where he graduated in 1843. Atkinson then received religious training at the Andover Theological Seminary, graduating in 1846. He married Nancy Bates that same year. On February 24, 1847, George Atkinson was ordained as a Congregational minister and then sent with his wife as a missionary to Oregon Country
. The couple sailed on the ship Samoset around South America’s Cape Horn
to the Sandwich Islands
. From there they voyaged on the vessel Cowlitz to the Columbia River
where they arrived in 1848.
Upon arrival the family settled at Oregon City, Oregon
. On June 21, 1848, Atkinson was given charge of the Congregationalist Church in Oregon City, which would not build a church building until 1850. In January 1849 he then helped organize the First Congregational Society of Oregon City. The church would later become the Atkinson Memorial Congregational Church. George Atkinson would serve as minister for 15 years at the church, and helped to found the Clackamas Female Seminary. He also helped to found Tualatin Academy
in Forest Grove
along with Tabitha Moffatt Brown and Harvey L. Clark
. Atkinson had been given instructions by the missionary board to start an academy before leaving for Oregon. The school was incorporated on September 29, 1849, and Atkinson served as a trustee of the school that would later become Pacific University
.
Also in 1849, Atkinson pushed for laws to create public schools, earning him the title of “Father of Oregon schools” by educators. He proposed that education should be at no cost to students with financial support coming through taxes, a permanent fund to provide financing should be established, control of the schools should be at the local level, the schools should allow religious freedom, and teachers should be certified to meet professional standards. Once public education laws were passed, George Atkinson became the first superintendent of schools in Clackamas County
. In 1865, he moved to Portland and became the pastor of the First Congregational Church as well as school superintendent for Multnomah County
.
In 1872, George Atkinson left his church to begin missionary work. By 1880 he was named as Superintendent of Missions of Congregational Churches of Oregon and Washington Territory
. With this he traveled throughout the region, and is credited with coining the phrase “Inland Empire
” to describe eastern regions of Oregon and Washington. In 1885, his district was split, and Atkinson remained in charge of the Oregon section until his death in Portland
on February 25, 1889. He was buried at River View Cemetery
in Portland.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
missionary and educator in what would become the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. In Oregon, he served as a pastor for several churches, helped found what would become Pacific University
Pacific University
Pacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove...
, and pushed for legislation to create a public school system in Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
. The Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
native later served as the county schools superintendent in Clackamas and Multnomah counties.
Early life
The Reverend George Atkinson was born on May 10, 1819, in Newburyport, MassachusettsNewburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
. After attending Bradford Academy and Newbury Academies, he then moved to Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
. There he attended Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
where he graduated in 1843. Atkinson then received religious training at the Andover Theological Seminary, graduating in 1846. He married Nancy Bates that same year. On February 24, 1847, George Atkinson was ordained as a Congregational minister and then sent with his wife as a missionary to Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
. The couple sailed on the ship Samoset around South America’s Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
to the Sandwich Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. From there they voyaged on the vessel Cowlitz to the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
where they arrived in 1848.
Oregon
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
. On June 21, 1848, Atkinson was given charge of the Congregationalist Church in Oregon City, which would not build a church building until 1850. In January 1849 he then helped organize the First Congregational Society of Oregon City. The church would later become the Atkinson Memorial Congregational Church. George Atkinson would serve as minister for 15 years at the church, and helped to found the Clackamas Female Seminary. He also helped to found Tualatin Academy
Tualatin Academy
Tualatin Academy was a secondary school in the U.S. state of Oregon that eventually became Pacific University. Tualatin Academy also refers to the National Register of Historic Places-listed college building constructed in 1850 to house the academy, also known as Old College Hall...
in Forest Grove
Forest Grove, Oregon
Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850 and then incorporated in 1872 and was the first city in Washington County...
along with Tabitha Moffatt Brown and Harvey L. Clark
Harvey L. Clark
Harvey L. Clark was an educator, missionary, and settler of what became Forest Grove, Oregon, United States. A native of Vermont, he moved to Oregon Country where he participated at the Champoeg Meetings and helped to found Tualatin Academy that later became Pacific University...
. Atkinson had been given instructions by the missionary board to start an academy before leaving for Oregon. The school was incorporated on September 29, 1849, and Atkinson served as a trustee of the school that would later become Pacific University
Pacific University
Pacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove...
.
Also in 1849, Atkinson pushed for laws to create public schools, earning him the title of “Father of Oregon schools” by educators. He proposed that education should be at no cost to students with financial support coming through taxes, a permanent fund to provide financing should be established, control of the schools should be at the local level, the schools should allow religious freedom, and teachers should be certified to meet professional standards. Once public education laws were passed, George Atkinson became the first superintendent of schools in Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
. In 1865, he moved to Portland and became the pastor of the First Congregational Church as well as school superintendent for Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
.
Later life
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
. With this he traveled throughout the region, and is credited with coining the phrase “Inland Empire
Inland Empire (Pacific Northwest)
thumb|The Inland Empire regionThe Inland Northwest, or Inland Empire, is a region in the Pacific Northwest centered on Spokane, Washington, including the surrounding Columbia River basin and all of North Idaho....
” to describe eastern regions of Oregon and Washington. In 1885, his district was split, and Atkinson remained in charge of the Oregon section until his death in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
on February 25, 1889. He was buried at River View Cemetery
River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
River View Cemetery in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States, is a non-profit cemetery founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon, including many governors and United States Senators...
in Portland.
Further reading
- Rockwood, "Diary of Rev. George H. Atkinson, D. D., 1847-1858," Oregon Historical Quarterly 40 (June, 1939).
- Sevetson, Donald J. George Atkinson, Harvey Scott, and the Portland High School Controversy of 1880. Oregon Historical Quarterly. vol. 108, #3. Fall 2007.
External links
- End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center: The End of the Missions
- Eells, Myron. Biography of Rev. G. H. Atkinson. F.W. Baltes, 1893.
- Sevetson, Donald J.: OREGON VOICES: George Atkinson, Harvey Scott, and the Portland High School Controversy of 1880. Oregon Historical Quarterly. Fall 2007.