Helen Jane Olson was born in Scotland on May 29, 1898, to William and Mary Ann (Stewart) Barron. She emigrated to the western United States, and married Edward H. Olson in 1938 in Seattle, Washington. The couple settled in Miles City, Montana, where she worked as a teacher. Olson attended Miles City Community College, then transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula. In June, 1947, she graduated from the university with degrees in both history and political science, and with many credits in English as well. She went on to study writing instruction with Dr. George Savage, first at the University of Washington, then at the University of Southern California. She died in Miles City on March 1, 1984.
Olson wrote poetry, short stories, and plays. In 1974, Vantage Press published two of her plays,
This collection includes correspondence (1973-1978), a few legal documents and financial records (1947-1977), memorial items (1961 and 1984), unpublished literary works (1954-1984), and research materials. Olson wrote letters to numerous publishers about her work, and received acknowledgments from universities and historical societies for donating copies of her plays. The legal documents and financial records range from a University of Washington Extension Credit Certificate, to a tax assessment receipt, to a receipt for attorney's fees. Memorial items in the collection are limited to her husband's obituary and a few items from her own funeral. Her unpublished works include poems and short stories.
The bulk of the collection is research material for a three-act play Olson was planning on the life of Robert E. Lee. The research consists mostly of transcripts of published biographies of Civil War generals:
The collection is divided into five series:
Series I: General Correspondence, 3 folders, 1973-1978
Series II: Legal Documents/Financial Records, 1 folder, 1947-1977
Series III: Memorial Service Items, 1 folder, 1961-1984
Series IV: Unpublished Works, 2 folders, circa 1954-1984
Series V: Research/Notes, 7 folders, undated
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and the University of Montana--Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to the University of Montana.
[Name of document or photograph number], Helen Jane Olson Papers, Archives and Special Collections, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Gift of Keith Haker, 1984.
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1998, the collection was re-described.
One photograph was separated from the collection and numbered 99-2574.
The correspondence is divided into three folders: letters from Vantage Press to Olson regarding publication of her plays (1973-1976), drafts of letters from Olson to various publishers promoting her plays (1978), and letters from universities and historical societies acknowledging receipt of her book (1975-1976).
The correspondence is arranged chronologically within each folder.
This series consists of three documents: a University of Washington Extension Credit Certificate (1947), a tax assessment receipt (1956), and a receipt for attorney's fees (1977).
This series consists of a laminated obituary of Edward H. Olson dated November 21, 1961; as well as a program, blank thank-you card for pallbearers (with envelope), and a spiral-bound memorial record book from Helen Jane Olson's funeral (1984).
The items are arranged chronologically.
Series IV consists of unpublished literary works by Helen Jane Olson. These include a short story about a husband who is dying of cancer (ca. 1968), several copies of original poems, draft pages of a story titled "My Story," and 24 pages of a play set in the 1930s South.
The items are arranged in their original order.
This series includes research material for a three-act play Olson was planning on the life of Robert E. Lee. The research consists mostly of typed transcripts of published biographies of Civil War generals:
The items are arranged in their original order.