Nebraska Authors

Known to friends as a dry wit, Olson had distinguished careers as a historian and, later in life, as a university administrator. Olson served as a historian for the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific Theater in World War II. After the war, from 1946-1956, he served as Director of the Nebraska State Historical Society and taught at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he would later serve as Regents Professor of History, chair of the Department of History, dean of the Graduate College, director of Graduate Program Development, and vice chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research. His biography of J. Sterling Morton, his first book, was derived from his Ph.D dissertation at the University of Nebraska. He was also the author of the widely adopted school and reference text Nebraska History which first appeared in 1955, but has been kept up-todate in revised additions, with collaborators.

In 1968, after some hesitation, Olson accepted a position as chancellor of the University of Missouri–Kansas City. From 1976 to 1984 he would serve as chancellor of the University of Missouri system. While at Missouri, he wrote several books on university administration, and a very well received biography of (William) Stuart Symington, Democratic United States Senator from Missouri (1953-1976), first Secretary of the Air Force and one of the twentieth century's most influential political figures.

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