Biographical note

Ralph A. Olsen was born June 13, 1901, in Ellsworth, Iowa to Nels Peter and Julia (Sexe) Olsen. He graduated from Ellsworth School (1919) and received a B.S. (1923) in animal science from Iowa State College (University). While a student at Iowa State, he was involved with the Block and Bridle Club, the Men’s Glee Club, and Theta Delta Chi fraternity.

Upon graduation from Iowa State, he began farming near Ellsworth, Iowa and became active in organizing cooperatives. Throughout his life, he was involved in agribusiness and a variety of farm organizations. Olsen served as secretary of the Ellsworth and Williams Co-op, president of the Boone Valley Co-op, president of SoyCot Sales Inc., and a board member of Farmland Foods. He also traveled extensively to study and promote agriculture, and including visits to India and the USSR.

He was also active as an Iowa State alumnus. Olsen was a founding member of the Iowa State University Cyclone Club, and he served in leadership positions on the Board of Governors of the Iowa State University Foundation, the Iowa State Alumni Association, the Athletic Council, and the Memorial Union Board of Directors. Olsen received several honors for his service, including a Centennial Citation (1958), and a Memorial Union Service Medallion (1978). He was named “Cy’s Favorite Alum” in 1962, and served as the marshal of the VEISHEA parade in 1981. In 1974, Olsen donated $250,000 to the Iowa State Foundation for completion of the football stadium, and in 1976, the University named the Ralph A. Olsen Athletics Administrative Building in his honor.

Olsen married Genevieve Johnson in 1925 and they had two children, Neil Peter Olsen and Patricia May Yungclas. After Genevieve passed away in 1977, Olsen married Bonita Peterson in 1978. He passed away in 1982.

 

Collection description

This collection (1918-2006, n.d.) consists of correspondence, notes, and news clippings related to Olsen’s activities with farm cooperatives and his travels. His trips to India, as well as his participation with the American Delegation to the Soviet Union in 1955, are particularly well documented. Also included in the collection are correspondence and other documents related to Olsen’s family, his donation to the Iowa State Foundation for the completion of the football stadium, and his time as a student at Iowa State College (University).

Organization

This collection is listed alphabetically.

1

1

Biographical Information – news clippings, biographical sketches, and alumni information sheets

1948-2006

1

2

Boone Valley Cooperative Processing Association

1972-1982

1

3

Corn and Soybean Clinics

1968-1978

1

4

Correspondence: Family and friends

1922-1923

1

5

Correspondence: Family, friends, and others interested in Olsen’s work

1955-1977

1

6

Ellsworth High School

1955-1974

1

7

India Visit: Delegation of American Farmers

1960

1

8

India Visit: Oilseeds Advisory Team (f1 of 3)

1970

1

9

India Visit: Oilseeds Advisory Team (2 of 3)

1970

2

1

India Visit: Oilseeds Advisory Team (3 of 3)

1970

2

2

Iowa State University: Block and Bridal Club

ca. 1920

2

3

Iowa State College: Alumni Association Gold Medal Award

1973

2

4

Iowa State College: Chemistry 504 (History of Chemistry) - notebook

1920

2

5

Iowa State College: Class schedules and grade reports

1920-1922

2

6

Iowa State College: Forestry 70 (Farm Forestry) - test booklet

1920

2

7

Iowa State College: Men’s Glee Club (2 b&w 8x10” photographs)

1923, n.d.

2

8

Iowa State College: Theta Delta Chi

1921-1923

2

9

Iowa State University: Gift for football stadium

1974

2

10

Photographs (5 8x10 and 2 5x7 b&w ; 2 8x10 color)

1969-1978, n.d.

2

11

Recognition Dinner

1968

2

12

Russian Trip: American Agricultural Delegation to the USSR

1955

2

13

Russian Trip: American Agricultural Delegation to the USSR

1955

2

14

South America Trip: Livestock Leaders Goodwill Delegation

1965

2

15

Talks: Agriculture, cooperatives, and Russia

1955-1967, n.d.

2

16

Talks: Soy-Cot Sales, Inc.

1970, n.d.

2

17

Testimony before the Federal Price Commission regarding the price of meat

1972