Olsson, Axel A. (Axel Adolf), 1889-1976

Biographical History

Axel Adolph Olsson (1889-1976) studied geology and invertebrate paleontology, and wrote extensively at Cenozoic Mollusca. He was born in Gloversville, New York, April 19, 1889. Olsson attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a year, and then Cornell University where he developed a relationship with Professor Gilbert D. Harris, working for him in both the classroom and the field. He earned his A.B. from Cornell in 1913. Oliver returned to Cornell several times over the years to pursue graduate and post-graduate work, though he did not complete his thesis on Miocene of Virginia. During much of his career, Olsson worked in petroleum exploration. He traveled extensively for this work and often collected at these locations. Some of his specimen collection was given to the U.S. National Museum. He worked primarily in South America, but also in the western United States, eastern Canada, and Canadian Rockies. Olsson eventually settled in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and became a Research Associate at the Academy of Natural Science. In his late years, he became interested in the geology and paleontology of south Florida, traveling to and consequently moving to St. Petersburg and Coral Gables. Olsson married Elsie Carleton Lawton in 1971 at the age of 80. He passed away on October 26, 1977.

Source

Moore, Donald R. (1978). "Axel A. Olsson -- An Obituary." The Nautilus. 92 (2), 59-60. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/nautilus92amer

Birth Date

1889

Death Date

1977

Topic

• Geologists
• Paleontologists

Form/Genre

Personal name

Occupation

• Geologists
• Paleontologists