Manuscript Register

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

 

Posted to Internet: February 2003

 

Acquisition Note: The Harry F. Olson papers were donated by his family in 1983.

 

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

 

Photographs: Box 1

 

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

 

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

 

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

 

Biographical Note

Harry Ferdinand Olson (1901 -- 1982) was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. He attended the University of Iowa and received his B.E. in 1924, his M.S. in 1925 and his Ph.D. in Physics in 1928.

Olson went to work for RCA and became head of acoustical research in 1934. He held over 100 patents for devices in the acoustical field such as the Electronic Music Synthesizer. He was also the author of several books relating to music, acoustics, and engineering.

Scope and Contents

The papers of Harry F. Olson consist of Olson's articles concerning acoustics and engineering in addition to biographical materials and photographs. There is also a folder relating to the publicity surrounding some of his projects.

 

Inventory

 

Biographical material

Articles written by Harry F. Olson

Newspaper clippings 1938 -- 1966

Photographs

Publicity material