Gertrude Olson Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 301

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers of Gertrude Olson (Sullivan) are comprised entirely of letters received in 1918 and 1919. The majority of these letters are from male friends then at camps around the country, including her future husband, though some are from the battle lines in France. In addition to outstanding depictions of camp living, there are some excellent documentations of daily life. In particular, the letters by Thea Myhr and John Ostby discuss the peculiarities of automobiles and motorcycles and the various ways they have wrecked them. Another letter by Jess Lundstrom discusses the devastation of the influenza epidemic. The letters have been organized into a single Correspondence series.

Dates

1918-1919

Creator

Olson, Gertrude, 1896-1940. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute owns the copyrights.

Biography

Gertrude (Gertie) Olson was born in Argusville, North Dakota on February 27, 1896, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Torger Olson. She lived in the Argusville area her entire life. She graduated from high school and served with the American Red Cross during World War I. She took extremely ill during the influenza epidemic of 1918, and perhaps due to complications from penicillin antibiotics, later suffered from myasthenia gravis, a neurological disorder. She married Harry Sullivan on January 1, 1926 and died of respiratory failure on June 4, 1940. Gertie Olson Sullivan was survived by her husband, two sons, and a daughter.