Olson, Sigurd F., 1899-1982

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)