Oscar L. Olson (February 3, 1872 – November 19, 1956) was the third President of Luther College. He was the first layperson to become President of a major Lutheran college in the United States.[1]
In 1901, Olson began teaching English at Luther College, his alma mater.[1] After the death of Christian Keyser Preus in 1921, Olson was appointed as President of Luther College, becoming the first layperson to serve as President of a major Lutheran college.[2] Expansion of the campus continued under Olson's presidency, with the addition of the C.K. Preus Gymnasium and Nustad Field, and the acquisition of the Jewell Farm.[1] Olson also advocated moving away from the traditional classics curriculum and allowing for the admission of women to the college.[3] Although women were not allowed to be admitted during his presidency, he did successfully convince the board to move away from the classics curriculum. On December 18, 1926, Olson inaugurated the campus radio station, KWLC, by reading the Gettysburg Address at the start of the first broadcast.[2] In 1932, due to mounting debt in part because of the Great Depression, the board asked Olson to resign, which he agreed to do.[3] Olson continued teaching English at Luther College until retiring in 1952. Olson passed away in 1956.[2]
Legacyedit
During homecoming on October 12, 1951, Olson was awarded an honoraryDoctor of Letters degree by Luther College.[2]
Olson Hall, a dormitory on the Luther College campus, was built and named in his honor in 1955.[1]
Selected publicationsedit
Olson, O. L. (1914). Beowulf and The Feast of Bricriu. Modern Philology, 11(3), 407-427.
Olson, O. L. (1916). The Relation of the Hrólfs saga kraka and the Bjarkarímur to Beowulf. Publications of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian.
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgDavid T. Nelson (1961). Luther College 1861-1961. Decorah, IA: Luther College Press.
^ abcde"Oscar Olson". Luther College Archives. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
^ abWilfred F. Bunge (2010). Transformed by the Journey. Decorah, IA: Luther College Press.
External linksedit
Oscar L. Olson at Luther College
December 18, 2023
oscar, olson, february, 1872, november, 1956, third, president, luther, college, first, layperson, become, president, major, lutheran, college, united, states, contents, early, life, career, legacy, selected, publications, references, external, linksearly, lif. Oscar L Olson February 3 1872 November 19 1956 was the third President of Luther College He was the first layperson to become President of a major Lutheran college in the United States 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Legacy 4 Selected publications 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editOlson was born on February 3 1872 in Chicago Illinois to Andrew B Olson and Guroe Larsen Krogstad 2 They moved to Sycamore Illinois in 1874 to Dixon Illinois in 1875 and Marcus Iowa in 1879 1 Olson entered Luther College in 1886 He graduated as Valedictorian in 1896 1 He completed a Master of Arts at the University of Minnesota and a Ph D in English at the University of Chicago in 1914 1 Career editIn 1901 Olson began teaching English at Luther College his alma mater 1 After the death of Christian Keyser Preus in 1921 Olson was appointed as President of Luther College becoming the first layperson to serve as President of a major Lutheran college 2 Expansion of the campus continued under Olson s presidency with the addition of the C K Preus Gymnasium and Nustad Field and the acquisition of the Jewell Farm 1 Olson also advocated moving away from the traditional classics curriculum and allowing for the admission of women to the college 3 Although women were not allowed to be admitted during his presidency he did successfully convince the board to move away from the classics curriculum On December 18 1926 Olson inaugurated the campus radio station KWLC by reading the Gettysburg Address at the start of the first broadcast 2 In 1932 due to mounting debt in part because of the Great Depression the board asked Olson to resign which he agreed to do 3 Olson continued teaching English at Luther College until retiring in 1952 Olson passed away in 1956 2 Legacy editDuring homecoming on October 12 1951 Olson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Luther College 2 Olson Hall a dormitory on the Luther College campus was built and named in his honor in 1955 1 Selected publications editOlson O L 1914 Beowulf and The Feast of Bricriu Modern Philology 11 3 407 427 Olson O L 1916 The Relation of the Hrolfs saga kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf Publications of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian References edit a b c d e f g David T Nelson 1961 Luther College 1861 1961 Decorah IA Luther College Press a b c d e Oscar Olson Luther College Archives Retrieved April 22 2018 a b Wilfred F Bunge 2010 Transformed by the Journey Decorah IA Luther College Press External links editOscar L Olson at Luther College Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oscar L Olson amp oldid 1137680235, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
