Education and Careers of the Jackson Home

The house at 1416 Lapsley was more than a residence, it was a home. Three dentists lived there—Dr. William H. Whitted, Dr. Eric Portlock, and Dr. Sullivan Jackson—providing vital dental care in Selma and often serving as the only dentists available to the African American community. It was also home to three educators—Leola Whitted, Bennie Portlock, and Richie Jean Jackson—who inspired generations of students to imagine brighter futures.

After her daughter Jawana began school, Richie Jean Jackson began a teaching career spanning decades. She was among the first Black educators selected to teach in Selma’s newly desegregated schools, where she taught fifth- and sixth-grade social studies and encouraged students to see their place in a wider world. While teaching, she earned a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Montevallo and retired in the early 1990s.

Teachers have long used chalk holders to keep their hands clean and make use of small pieces of chalk. This example belonged to Richie Jean Jackson and reflects the everyday tools of the classroom. It was manufactured by the W.T. Rogers Company of Madison, Wisconsin, a firm known for producing office supplies and other consumer goods.

Teachers have traditionally used hand bells—typically brass or steel bells with wooden handles—to manage classrooms and make announcements. This bell belonged to Richie Jean Jackson and was likely used to signal transitions, call students in from recess, or gain attention at the start of class. It reflects the everyday routines and responsibilities of teaching.

Paper cutters have long been a staple of American classrooms, helping teachers prepare lessons, displays, and student materials. This cutter was used by Richie Jean Jackson and manufactured by the Ideal School Supply Company, a Chicago-based firm known for its paper trimmers, educational tools, and teaching aids. It represents the practical work that supported daily classroom instruction.

As a young boy, Sullivan Jackson was sent to Indiana to pursue opportunities unavailable to him in Alabama. After excelling in school, he studied chemistry at West Virginia State University. World War II interrupted his education, but after military service he completed his degree and earned a dental degree from Meharry Medical College. Encouraged by his sister, he moved to Selma to join Dr. Portlock’s practice and retired in the early 1990s.

A dappen glass, or dappen dish, is a small glass vessel with shallow wells used for holding and mixing materials. Dr. Sullivan Jackson used these ten-sided dishes to prepare small amounts of liquids and powders for dental fillings, resins, and other compounds. They were essential tools in the day-to-day practice of dentistry.

Dental mirrors are multi-purpose instruments used for indirect vision, magnification, and illumination. Dr. Sullivan Jackson used this mirror, made by The KERR Manufacturing Company, to view hard-to-see areas, reflect light into shadowed spaces, and gently move the cheeks or tongue aside. Founded in 1891 as the Detroit Dental Manufacturing Company by brothers Robert and John Kerr, the firm later became KERR.

Dr. Sullivan Jackson used this dental shade guide to determine the natural color of his patients’ teeth to ensure that crowns and other dental fixes would blend with the existing teeth. The Dentists’ Supply Company established the Trubyte brand of artificial denture teeth in 1931.

A dental scaler is a specialized instrument used to remove hardened plaque, tartar, and stains from teeth. Dr. Sullivan Jackson and his hygienists likely used this scaler as part of routine patient care. It was manufactured by Premier Dental Products, a company founded in 1913 by instrument maker Julius Charlestein that continues to produce dental instruments and supplies today.