Olson, Sigurd F., 1899-1982

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1899-04-04
Death 1982-01-13

Biographical notes:

Olson is past president of the National Parks Association and the Wilderness Society and author of many books on wilderness areas and the environment.

From the description of Oral history interview with Sigurd F. Olson, 1976 May 27. (Minnesota Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 45441498

1899 Born April 4 in Chicago, Illinois, the second son of Lawrence J. Olson, a Baptist minister, and Ida May Cederholm. 1906 Moved to northern Wisconsin, first to Sister Bay; then Prentice; then Ashland. 1916 Graduated from Ashland High School, Wisconsin. 1916 1918 Attended Northland College in Ashland. 1918 1920 Attended University of Wisconsin in Madison, earning a bachelor's degree in agriculture. 1920 1922 Taught high school agriculture and geology courses in Nashwauk and Keewatin, Minnesota. 1921 Olson's first article, an account of a canoe expedition, published by the Milwaukee Journal, July 31. 1921 Married Elizabeth Dorothy Urenholdt from Seeley, Wisconsin, August 8, 1922. Enrolled in graduate geology program at University of Wisconsin, Madison. 1923 Taught high school biology in Ely, Minnesota. Sigurd Thorn Olson born, September 15. 1925 Robert Keith Olson born, December 23. 1925 1930 Worked with Ernest Oberholtzer and Frank Hubachek to oppose dams, roads, and other development in the Minnesota wilderness areas. 1926 Continued teaching high school biology and began teaching biology at Ely Junior College (now Vermilion Community College). 1929 1951 Partner in the Border Lakes Outfitting Company. 1931 1932 Earned Master of Science degree in animal and plant ecology, University of Illinois. Thesis: The Life History of the Timber Wolf and the Coyote: A Study in Predatory Animal Control. 1936 1945 Dean of Students, Ely Junior College. 1945 1946 Taught as a civilian in the American Army University, Shrivenham, England: Germany, France, Italy, Austria. Witnessed the Nuremberg trials. 1947 Resigned from Ely Junior College to begin full time writing career. 1947 1950 Consultant, Izaak Walton League of America. 1948 1949 Successfully lobbied for airspace restrictions in the roadless areas of the Superior National Forest. 1951 1959 Member, National Parks Association. 1959 1966 Member, United States National Parks Service, National Advisory Board of Parks, Monuments, Historic Sites. 1956 The Singing Wilderness, essays on wilderness values and experiences in the Quetico-Superior canoe country, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1958 Listening Point, observations made at his cabin on Burntside Lake, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1960 1966 Member, Secretary of the Interior's Advisory Committee. 1961 The Lonely Land, an account of Olson's Churchill River voyageurs canoe expedition, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1962 Consultant to the Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. 1963 Runes of the North, essays regarding man's inner world and natural wisdom, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1963 1966 Vice President, The Wilderness Society. 1967 1971 President, The Wilderness Society. 1969 The Hidden Forest, seasonal photographs and essays about the north woods, with photographer Les Blacklock published by Viking Press. 1969 Open Horizons, autobiographical essays, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1972 Sigurd F. Olson's Wilderness Days, a seasonal collection of previously published essays, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1974 Burroughs Medal received for Wilderness Days, John Burroughs Memorial Association. 1976 Reflections from the North Country, Olson's philosophy, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1981 Robert Marshall Award, The Wilderness Society. 1982 Died on January 13 while snowshoeing near home. 1982 Of Time and Place, last reminiscences, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1989 Death of Elizabeth Olson, August 23.

Information for the chronology was compiled from the collection and from The Sigurd F. Olson Web Site produced by David Backes, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

From the guide to the Sigurd F. Olson papers., 1920s-1989., (Minnesota Historical Society)

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Subjects:

  • Adventure travel
  • Authors and publishers
  • Authors and publishers
  • Book editors
  • Canoes and canoeing
  • Conservationists
  • Conservationists
  • Conservation of natural resources
  • Conservation of natural resources
  • Environmental protection
  • Forests and forestry
  • Forests and forestry
  • Human ecology
  • Mines and mineral resources
  • Mines and mineral resources
  • National parks and reserves
  • Natural history
  • Naturalists
  • Nature
  • Nature conservation
  • Outdoor writers
  • Overpopulation
  • Philosophy of nature
  • Voyages and travels
  • Waterways
  • Wilderness areas
  • Wilderness areas
  • Wilderness areas
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Wolves
  • World War, 1939-1945

Occupations:

  • Authors
  • Conservationists
  • Educators
  • Environmentalists
  • Outdoor writers
  • Voyageurs

Places:

  • Quetico Provincial Park (Ont.) (as recorded)
  • Minnesota (as recorded)
  • Boundary Waters Canoe Area (Minn.) (as recorded)
  • Minnesota (as recorded)
  • Ontario (as recorded)
  • Alaska (as recorded)
  • Superior National Forest (Minn.). (as recorded)
  • Quetico Provincial Park (Ont.). (as recorded)
  • Quetico-Superior area (Ont.-Minn.). (as recorded)
  • Quetico-Superior area (Ont.-Minn.) (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Boundary Waters Canoe Area (Minn.). (as recorded)
  • Superior National Forest (Minn.) (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Minnesota (as recorded)
  • Quetico-Superior Country (Ont. and Minn.) (as recorded)

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