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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1967-1980 (Creation)
- Creator
- Olson, Rodney, 1914-1980
Physical description area
Physical description
- 736 photographs
- 2 watercolours
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Rodney Andrew Olson was born 19 April 1914 at Somerville, Mass. He graduated from Tufts College with a B.Sc. in 1936. He received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland and did oceanographic research for the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, 1939-1942. During the Second World War he served as a naval lieutenant. From 1946 to 1972 Olson was a research physiologist for molecular biophysics section of the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Md., where he met and married June Isaminger in 1949. Having summered in Lunenburg, N.S. since 1967, the Olsons made a permanent move to the area in 1972 when Rodney took early retirement as a visiting professor at Dalhousie University, Halifax. While residing in Lunenburg he turned his life-long hobby of photography into a second career. He died at Halifax on 29 June 1980.
Name of creator
Biographical history
June Isaminger was born at Ann Arbour, Mich. She studied art in Washington, D.C. at the Abbott Art School and later, the Concoran School of Fine Arts. Privately, she studied oil painting with George J. Hamilton, lecturer and artist at the Phillip's Collection, Washington, and watercolour with Eliot O'Hara. From 1945 to 1951 she worked as medical illustrator at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Md. where she met and married Rodney Olson in 1949. From 1967 to 1971 June Olson served as secretary for the Washington Water Color Association and was a founding member and president of Spectrum Gallery, in 1969-70. The Olsons spent their summers in Lunenburg, N.S. beginning in 1967 and moved there permanently in 1972. June Olson became active in the cultural life of Lunenburg County, opening her own gallery and teaching for the county's Department of Continuing Education. She served on the board of directors for Visual Arts Nova Scotia and the Lunenburg Heritage Art Gallery Committee. She is particularly known for her watercolour street scenes of Lunenburg as well as Mahone Bay and Chester. Since 1980, Olson has taught watercolour painting privately. As of 2002 she was residing in Chester Basin, N.S.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Fonds consists of mostly photograph negatives taken by Rodney Olson. The geographic area represented is almost exclusively Lunenburg County including the communities of Lunenburg, Stonehurst, Eastern Points, and Blue Rocks. Images include fishing scenes, vessels, businesses, buildings, and residents. Also contains two watercolours titled "Eastern Points Island" and "Boat-spinder, Rose Bay" by June Olson.
Notes area
Physical condition
Several oversize prints mounted and/or framed.
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated by June Olson in 1994, 1996, and 1998.
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Finding aids
Partial inventory available.
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General note
Formerly known as Olson family fonds.