Olsborg, Gunnar, 1909-2000

Captain Gunnar Olsborg (1909-2000) was a Puget Sound Pilot and ocean master mariner. Born in Seattle, Washington, of Norwegian ancestry, Olsborg served in the Merchant Marine for twenty years. During World War II, he was a shipmaster on American Mail Line vessels in the South Pacific. After the war, Olsborg became a Puget Sound Pilot, retiring in 1982 but continuing to deliver ships to and from Alaska, Honolulu, and Seattle. He was a longtime member of organizations such as the Norwegian Commercial Club, the Council of American Master Mariners, and the Leif Erickson League of the Seattle Area. As secretary of the league, Olsborg played an important role in the installation of the Leif Erickson statue overlooking Seattle's Shilshole Bay. During World War II, Olsborg became sympathetic to the plight of Japanese-Americans, later becoming active in the Japanese-American Citizens' League and campaigning for the presidential pardon of Tokyo Rose Iva Toguri. He served as the president of the congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Seattle, and he spoke frequently on topics such as Norwegian history and the sinking of the Titanic. Gunnar Olsborg died in Seattle in 2000.

From the description of Gunnar Olsborg papers, 1936-1997. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 28426071

Captain Gunnar Olsborg (1909-2000) was a Puget Sound Pilot and ocean master mariner. He was born in Seattle, Washington, of Norwegian ancestry.

Olsborg began his career in 1925 and served in all categories of the Merchant Marine Deck Department for the next twenty years. During World War II, Olsborg served as a shipmaster on American Mail Line vessels sailing the South Pacific. After the war, Olsborg became a Puget Sound Pilot. As a pilot, he was involved with pension debates within the group.

Olsborg retired from the Puget Sound Pilots in 1982 but continued to deliver ships to and from Alaska, Honolulu, and Seattle. He was a longtime member of many organizations including the Norwegian Commercial Club, the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society, the Council of American Master Mariners, and the Leif Erickson League of the Seattle Area. As secretary of the Leif Erikson League, Olsborg played an important role in the installation of the Leif Erickson statue overlooking Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle, Washington. During World War II, Olsborg became sympathetic to the plight of Japanese-Americans. He later became an active member of the Japanese-American Citizens' League and campaigned aggressively for the presidential pardon of Tokyo Rose Iva Toguri. He served as the president of the congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Seattle. Olsborg also served on the Scandinavian Studies Advisory Board at the University of Washington from 1984 to 1988.

Aside from his career at sea, Olsborg had numerous public speaking engagements during his lifetime. He spoke on a variety of maritime topics, as well as Tokyo Rose Iva Toguri, Norwegian history, and the sinking of the Titanic . In 1965 he published biographies of the Puget Sound Pilots in the Western Viking .

Olsborg married Evelyn Torwick in 1929 and they had two daughters. He died in Seattle in 2000.

From the guide to the Gunnar Olsborg papers, 1936-1997, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)