William A. Olson papers, 1958-1978

Overview of the Collection

Creator
William A. Olson, 1911-1985
Title
William A. Olson papers
Dates
1958-1978 (inclusive)
Quantity
7 cubic feet
Collection Number
MG 393, MG393 (collection)
Summary
Correspondence concerning Idaho history, especially the Nez Perce War of 1877; also photocopies of historical records, handwritten and typed transcripts of published material, maps, newspaper clippings, and other papers.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

William A. Olson was born June 16, 1911, at Breckenridge, Minnesota, the son of Carl Henning and Laura Enderson Olson. As a young man he moved with his family to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He attended the University of Idaho, graduating with a B.S. degree in business with a major in accounting in 1939. He served as secretary of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce, and in 1941 he became the first full time alumni secretary of the University of Idaho.

He married Julia Hunter on August 28, 1937, at Coeur d'Alene. In 1942 he joined the U.S. Air Corps and was stationed at the Salt Lake City Air Base, and later served in the South Pacific. In 1946, following his military service, he moved to Pocatello where he worked for M.T. Deaton Co. as an accountant for two years. In 1948 he opened his own public accounting firm in Boise where he continued until his retirement in January of 1979.

He was past president of the Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants, a member of the Elks Club, and a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was also an avid collector of Idaho history. He died in Boise on October 18, 1985.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Although the photocopies in this collection include material from as early as the 1860s the correspondence related to the collecting of the material spans the years 1964 to 1978.

Included in the records are photocopies of historical records, handwritten and typed transcripts of published material, maps, newspaper clippings, photographs, and correspondence concerning Idaho history. Also included are several sets of bibliography and note cards.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

FOR DOCUMENTS Author, Description or "Title' of item, date. Collection name, collection number, box, folder. University of Idaho Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Some of the material in this record group was in unlabeled or poorly labeled three ring binders, and other material was in well-labeled folders. Since there appeared to be no order to the received arrangement, a series order based on format was imposed during processing.

The first series contains the material which was removed from the three-ring binders. Since most of the binders were not labeled or had one or two word labels, these were given broad subject headings, e.g. Indians, Nez Perce; Mining; Florence, Idaho; then alphabetized using the name, if any on the binder, followed by a brief description of the type of material (handwritten notes, photocopies, etc.). If there was no title on the binder only a description of the type of material was used.

The second series contains the material which was in labeled folders; it is divided into two subseries, letter size and legal size. These are also arranged alphabetically by folder heading, with an occasional description of contents. This series contains correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, about Olson's collecting activities as well as photocopies, handwritten excerpts from published sources, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

Olson's bibliography and note cards are in series three. These are on 5x8 pieces of paper and are arranged alphabetically or, as in the case of the Nez Perce war of 1877, chronologically.

Material in three ring binders was removed from the binders and placed in acid-neutral folders. Duplicate photocopies were discarded, as were carbon copies of the handwritten notes. Also discarded were the handwritten drafts of letters when the carbon-typed copy was present. USGS maps not in individual folders were sent to the gifts librarian for evaluation as possible additions to the University Library's map collection. This reduced the records by 2.5 cubic feet.

Acquisition Information

The papers of the William A. Olson were donated to the University of Idaho Library by his son William T. Olson in June 1996.

Separated Materials

Additional materials were passed along to Gifts librarian for consideration to add to main collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. NotebooksReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1-3
Books: Dealers and prices
224 items
1/4
Books: Titles of books on northwest history, possibly owned by Olson
15 items
1/5
Correspondence: A-Z
89 items
1964-1965
1/6
Correspondence: McDermott, John D. (material on Nez Perce)
13 items
1966-1967
1/7
Florence, Idaho. Docket book of Jaspar Rand, Justice of the Peace (typescript)
1 item
1862-1876
1/8
History: McDonald, Duncan, biographical sketch, handwritten
1 item
1/9
History: Rutledge, Louise. D. Boon, 1776, a western bicentennial mystery
1 item
1975
1/10
History, Salmon River
4 items
Excerpts from journals of M. Lewis and Sergeant John Ordway with miscellaneous notes, handwritten & typed
1/11
History, Winter Travel: Tracy & Co.'s express
3 items
Typescript of story of men frozen to death in two parts, Cast & story, both handwritten
1862
1/12
Idaho History: Benedict O. Kelly
2 items
Handwritten story, photocopies and typescript of sources. Photo of Geo. Cartwright family
1/13-16
Idaho History: Excerpts, typed and handwritten, from published sources, A-Z
1 item
1/17
Idaho History: Idaho in 1860 (handwritten)
1 item
1860
1/18
Indians, Big Foot: Johnson, Carolyn. He chose a life of revenge
1 item (carbon typescript)
1966
1/19
Indians, Big Foot: Photocopies of articles
20 items
1878-1963
1/20-21
Indians, Nez Perce: Brice, Patrick. Narrative
10 items
Typescript & handwritten copy with notes.
1877
1/22
Indians, Nez Perce: Lott, Sam & Peo Peo Tah Likt. Historical sketches of the Nez Perce
1 item (photocopy of typescript)
1935
1/23
Indians, Nez Perce: McDonald, Duncan. Articles appearing in New North West
2 items (typescript)
1878
1/24
Indians, Nez Perce: The Nez Perces. Photocopy from The North American Indian, by Edward Curtis, v.8
1 item
1911
1/25-26
Indians, Nez Perce: Reuben's Roster. Names of Nez Perce killed by soldiers in various battles (typed)
241 items
1/27
Indians, Nez Perce: Williams, Jonathon (Billy)
4 items
(Typed notes on Williams, his maps and place names)
1/28
Indians, Nez Perce, War: Article on Chief Joseph, Hand drawn maps of White Bird area, typescript article: The Battle of White Bird
4 items
1/29-30
Indians, Nez Perce, War: Court of Inquiry: typescripts and photocopies arranged by subject
18 items
2/31
Indians, Nez Perce, War: Howard, O.O., Reports
2 items (photocopies from microfilm)
1877
2/32-33
Indians, Nez Perce, War: Indian order of battle
118 items
(Alphabetical list of Nez Perce involved)
1977
2/34-39
Indians, Nez Perce, War: Names and places, A-Z
376 items
2/40-41
Indians, Nez Perce, War: New North West
1 item
Photostats of newspaper articles
1877-1878
2/42-43
Indians, Nez Perce, War: War chronology, by date and place
190
2/44-46
Indians, Nez Perce, War: War Department files
159 items
(Photocopy from microfilm)
1877
2/47
Indians, Snake River, Massacre: Book. Geary, Edward R. Depredations and massacre by the Snake River Indians. Ye Galleon Press
1 item
1966
2/48-49
Indians, Snake River, Massacre: Otter (Elija?) Photocopies, typescripts, and handwritten notes
36 items
1860
3/50
Lewis & Clark: Excerpts from journals
5 items (handwritten)
1805
3/51
Lewis & Clark: Selections from the journals
20 items (handwritten and typed)
1804-1805
3/52
Mining: Boise Basin
4 items
(typed excerpts from various sources)
3/53
Mining: Healy
15 items
(Typed excerpts from journal and handwritten notes and lists of names)
3/54
Mining: Healy, John J. Frontier sketches (Ft. Benton, Montana Record)
3 items (typescript)
1878
3/55
Mining, Florence, Idaho: Babboon
3 items
Handwritten notes on mining claims in Babboon Gulch and its tributaries.
3/56-57
Mining, Florence, Idaho: Claims
5 items
(Typed list)
ca. 1861-1889
3/58
Mining, Florence, Idaho: List of names from James Hawley's History of Idaho
2 items
3/59
Mining, Florence, Idaho: Scott
9 items
(Handwritten notes of Sylvester Scott and his family)
3/60-63
Mining, Newspaper excerpts
182 items
(arranged by newspaper)
3/64
Mining, Newspaper: Washington Statesman (Walla Walla)
3 items (typescript)
1861-1865
3/65
Mining & Indians: Alphabetical list of names & places
77 items (handwritten)
undated
3/66
Miscellaneous
94 items
Workbook; Checklists; Teller-Lewiston; Idaho City papers; History - income tax; Lapwai Agency letters

Series II. FoldersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Letter size
Box/Folder
3/67
Babboon
2 items
3/68
Bannock War of 1878
2 items
1969
3/69
Bemis, Polly
2 items
1923-1971
3/70
Berg, August
10 items
(inc. photograph)
1969
3/71
Boise Basin
3 items
3/72
Boise County. Washington Territorial Legislature
2 items
12 Jan. 1863
3/73
Correspondence
35 items
1968-1976
3/74
Aoki, Prof. Haruo, Univ. of California
14 items
1967-1969
3/75
Battle of White Bird Canyon Forlorn Hope (John D. McDermott)
10 items
1966-1968
3/76
Book orders
37 items
1967-1978
3/77
California Historical Society
1 item
1978
3/78
Chapman, John S. & Thomas McGrath, Jr.
1 item
1974
3/79
Custer's Last Stand as told by John Frederic
2 items
1971
3/80
Idaho, University of
8 items
1965-1971
3/81
Idaho State University
18 items
1964-1968
3/82
Montana, University of
4 items
1969
3/83
Montana Historical society
7 items
1967-1970
3/84
National Archives
12 items
1967-1971
3/85
Olson, Wm. A., Idaho history
66 items
1965-1976
3/86
Otter party
13 items
1868-1970
3/87
Overland, Helen Howard
9 items
1966-1982
3/88
Peo Peo Hi Hi (White Bird)
29 items
(inc. photograph)
1969-1970
3/89
Smith, Neil B. and Opal
9 items
1966-1968
3/90
Smithsonian Institution
11 items
1966-1974
3/91
Standifer, J.J.
7 items
1970
3/92
Talbotte, H.J.
1 item
1971
3/93
Taylor, Quintard
3 items
1975
3/94
Washington State University
24 items
1964-1972
3/95
Yale University Press
3 items
1969-1974
3/96
Craig, William
2 items
3/97
Crooks, Jacob
2 items
3/98
Cynthia (Ann Ewing)
8 items
4/99
DeVeny, Betty. History of John Day drainage
2 items
ca. 1971
4/100
Devine, Richard
1 item
1967
4/101
Fenn-Kooskia Mountaineer
8 items
(photocopies from Early Idaho History series)
1921
4/102
Fisher, Don C. The Nez Perce War
1 item
(U of I thesis)
1925
4/103
Florence. Handwritten notes
2 items
4/104
Florence (includes photographs)
7 items
4/105
Florence, Idaho. Newspaper clippings
3 items
4/106
Florence, Claims
1 item
1861-1870
4/107
Florence, Claims: Millers Creek
4 items
4/108
Florence, Plat maps (hand drawn)
7 items
ca. 1962
4/109
Frederic, John W.H.
2 items
1971
4/110
Gill, Clark
3 items
1964
4/111
Golden Age
1 item (reproduction)
1862
4/112
Hanson & Erickson - War photos (Nez Perce War)
29 items
1877
4/113
Healy Creek (hand drawn map)
1 item
undated
4/114
Helm, Boone
3 items
4/115
Jagger party - Scott
2 items
(handwritten and photostat copies)
4/116
Kirkwood, Charlotte. The Nez Perce War
1 item
(photocopy of published work [195-?]
undated
4/117
Leland, Alonzo
1 item
1973
4/118
Lewis, (Cougar) Dave, paper by Neil Williams
3 items
1975
4/119
Long - Swarts
4 items
1968
4/120
Manuel, Popham (handwritten notes, article)
42 items
ca. 1972
4/121
Map: Battle of White Bird, USGS
1 item
1963
4/122
Boise, USGS
1 item
1962
4/123
Burgdorff, USGS
1 item
1956
4/124
Camas Prairie, White Bird, Salmon
5 items
1869-1904
4/125
Coeur d'Alene Region
5 items
1917-1918
4/126
Elk City, USGS
1 item
1963
4/127
Fletcher. Nez Perce War 1878. Symons, Department of the Columbia, Reproduction
1 item
1892
4/128
Florence 1808-1912 (copies); USGS, 1963
4 items
4/129
Grangeville, USGS
2 items
1963
4/130
Idaho. Salmon City-Florence railroad
1 item (photocopy)
ca. 1877
5/131
Lewis & Clark (includes post cards)
6 items
1945-1966
5/132
McKenzie Creek, USGS
1 item
1963
5/133
Nez Perce National Forest, USDA
1 item
1959
5/134
Oreana, USGS
1 item
1949
5/135
Oregon, Washington, Idaho (reproduction)
1 item
1878
5/136
Steen, (Maj. E.) route against Snake Indians, Walla Walla - Boise
1 item (photocopy)
1860
5/137
Membership cards
4 items
1967-1968
5/138
Nez Perce, War of 1877, newspaper clippings
26 items
1957-1958
5/139
Norton - Chamberlain
3 items
5/140
Oliphant, Judge E.P.
1 item
1920
5/141
The Oregon Trail
1 item
1974
5/142
Osborn - Mason
1 item
5/143
Otter party
37 items
5/144
Owen, John, notes from his journal
1 item
5/145
Petition - Salmon River
2 items (photostat and typescript)
1877
5/146
Photographs, Idaho County
58 items
1922-1967
5/147
Pierce, E.D.
5 items
5/148
Rawn, Capt. Chas. C.
6 items
(handwritten transcripts of letters)
1877
5/149
Robbers Gulch
1 item
5/150
Salmon River - First ones (photocopies)
9 items
5/151
Seibert, John A.
1 item
5/152
Seven Devils mines, by Winifred Lindsay
1 item
5/153
Slate Creek Boot Hill
23 items
5/154
Space, Ralph. Lewis and Clark through Idaho
1 item
[1964?]
5/155
Sandifer, J.J. (photocopies of articles)
17 items
5/156
Swarts, Theodore
5 items
5/157
Thunder Mountain Story
1 item
[1963?]
5/158
Unfoldered notes, articles and photocopies
42 items
ca. 1974
5/159
Walla Walla
1 item (copy of lithograph)
1876
5/160
Ward massacre
1 item
1854
5/161
Weiser, Jacob
2 items
5/162
Weiser, Peter
16 items
5/163
White Bird Hill archaeology
1 item
1964
5/164
Wire Bridge
5 items
B. Legal size
Box/Folder
6/165
Bledsoe, Matt
26 items
6/166
Correspondence: Florence, Idaho
18 items
1970-1972
6/167
F-1 (photocopies from microfilm, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings)
43 items
6/168
Florence library (photocopies of account book and rental library record
1 item
1862-1863
6/169
Howard, O.O. Nez Perce Joseph
1 item (photocopy of typescript)
1881
6/170
Keating, John J. Correspondence & clippings
14 items
1966-1974
6/171
Land sales
2 items
1860s
6/172
Reddington, J.W. Scouting in Montana (copy of typescript)
1 item
6/173
Redfield, Frank. Autobiography
1 item (photocopy of typescript)
undated
6/174
Scott family (photocopies of legal documents)
5 items
1891-1944
6/175
Teller Extras
20 items (photocopies of newspapers)
1877
6/176
White Bird (Nez Perce Indian)
5 items
6/177-178
Miscellaneous to be filed
148 items

Series III. Note cardsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
7/179
5x8 bibliography cards A-Z
1900
8/180
Fur trade - Astorians, 5x8 note cards
700 items
8/181
Nez Perce War
350 items
5x8 note cards, chronological and alphabetical
1877

Series IV. Additional MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
9 182
Maps
5 items (reservation maps, pnw territory maps )
1850-1867
9 183
Photographs
5 items (landscape, portraits, military headshot)
undated
9 184
Notes
27 items (pnw chronology, geological survey notes)
1972
9 185
Publications
26 items (idaho territory, native american history newspaper clippings, chief jospeh )
1879-1972
9 186
Dept. of Justice materials
2 items (gold rush, nez perce territory gold production )
1958

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Gold Mines and Mining
  • Nez PercĂ© Indians--Wars, 1877--Sources

Geographical Names

  • Idaho--History--Sources