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Scope and Content Note:

This Sub-Group contains personal and professional papers of University of Missouri President James C. Olson. Olson served as interim President of the University of Missouri System from 1976 to 1977 and as President from 1977 through 1984. Among the items included are materials concerning his education and his professional career as well as Olson family memorabilia from the years 1905 to 1984.
Note to Researchers: Files relating to the personal life of President Olson may be used only with his permission. Ask the University Archives staff about this restriction

Series Descriptions:

Series 1. - UW:4/4/1 (A84-70, A84-103, A85-121, A87-58, A87-128)
This Series contains professional and personal papers of University of Missouri President James C. Olson (1934-1984). Included in this Series are materials regarding his education, Master's thesis, and Ph.D. dissertation, as well as his published articles and books, materials for courses he taught, military service records, personal diaries, appointment calendars, news clippings concerning his professional career, and items of Olson family memorabilia (1905-1984). Also contained in this Series are meeting notes, records concerning Olson's memberships in various professional and civic organizations, and administrative records from his tenures as Chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and President of the University Of Missouri. Personal items include correspondence with his wife, Vera B. Farrington, and with their families.
(31 c.f., Follow this link for box locations)

Series 2. - UW:4/4/2 (A81-60, A82-68, A83-45, A83-83, A84-70, A84-98, A84-108, A85-15, A87-109, A88-19, A88-20; A05-60; A06-64; A07-71; A17-55)
This Series contains professional and personal papers of University of Missouri President James C. Olson (1934-2013). Included are reports, correspondence, pamphlets, news clippings, press releases, meeting minutes and budget materials. Some of these records relate to Olson's personal life and business during the years 1968 through 1983. Also included in the Series are records relating to associations, councils and organizations, other colleges and universities, the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, the Mid-America Arts Alliance, the Midwest Research Institute, the North Central Association, University of Missouri Extension, the American Association of University Professors, the National Commission of Accrediting, Intercollegiate Athletics, legislation important to higher education, UM-System executives, state and federal governments and agencies, affirmative action, the State Relations Plan, UM-System Central Administration, University cabinet meetings, faculty salary inequities, and student financial aid. This series also includes materials, including drafts, related to books written by Olson, including his memoirs, a history of the state of Nebraska, a biography of Missouri Senator Stuart Symington, and a history of the creation of the University of Missouri System. Numerous items of memorabilia form part of the Series as well; they include awards and plaques presented to Olson during his administrative career. Series 2 also holds records related to James Olson's wife, Vera Olson. Among these are travel journals and copies of her speeches and writings.
(128 2/3 c.f., Follow this link for box locations)
Note to Archivist: Some box lists for this Series are available online. They can be accessed by following this link.

Former Series #3 UW:4/4/3 (A84-98)
This Series has been enlarged to a full inventory. Please follow this link to reach the inventory. This Series contains professional and personal papers relating to the public speeches and addresses given by University of Missouri President James C. Olson (1968-1983).

Series 4. - UW:4/4/6 (A23-40)
This Series contains a printed copy of James C. Olson's 1964 American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) president's address "The Role of Local History", (1980). The address was first published by the AASLH in 1965 and reprinted in 1977 and again in 1980.
(FF, Small Holdings Box 11)

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