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Olsen/Ricklefs Family papers
SC1414
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Olsen-Ricklefs Family papers
source:
Mercer, Lucinda
creator:
Olsen/Ricklefs Family
Identifier/Call Number: SC1414
Physical Description:
10.5 Linear Feet
(7 cartons)
Date (inclusive): 1902-1983
Physical Location: Special Collections
and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 48 hours in advance.
For more information on paging collections, see the department's website:
http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
Margaret Olsen (Margo) (Dardie). Born 1905. Died 1984. Most of the letters and other
documents are either written by her or were sent to her or relate to her family. First
husband was Clarence Ricklefs. Second husband was Marshall Somerville. Owner of the
Petroleum Specialty Company (which came to her from her father through Clarence) and
manufacturer of Gage-O paste for determining the amount of water or gasoline at the bottom
of oil storage tanks. Stanford ’28, Philosophy.
George Fredric Olsen (GF) (GFO). Margaret’s father. First petroleum engineer to graduate
from Purdue University. Initiator of Gage-O (possibly created in his lab). Worked for Union
Oil and General Petroleum among other oil and oil related companies.
Geneva Matthews Olsen. Margaret’s mother. Also a Purdue graduate.
George Frederic Olsen, Jr. Margaret’s brother. Worked in the War Office during WW2.
Executive with Lane Drugs and related drug stores. Attended Stanford, not sure of the
years.
Hildegard Matthews Olsen (Heidi). Margaret’s sister. Born about 1921 or 1922.
Clarence L. Ricklefs (Rick) (Duke). Margaret’s first wife, and father of Cynthia and
Belinda. The producer of the New Shakespeare Company of San Francisco, 1965 to about 1982,
with his second wife, Margrit Roma, who was the director. Stanford ’29 (did not
graduate).
Robert U. Ricklefs (Count) (Bob). Clarence Ricklefs’ younger brother. Taught school in the
Hupa Reservation. Worked on General Eisenhower’s staff during WW2. Founded the Robert Louis
Stevenson School for Boys (now the Stevenson School) on the Monterey Peninsula in 1952.
Stanford graduate, not sure of the year.
Richard Ricklefs. Clarence and Robert Ricklefs’ youngest brother. Born 1916. Died 2007.
Married Elsie Gardner, a member of the Hupa tribe and was the only doctor on the Hupa
Reservation for many years. Attended Stanford for 1 year.
James Ricklefs. Cousin to Clarence, Robert, and Richard Ricklefs. Pioneer in the helicopter
service industry. Stanford ’37.
Cynthia Lyans Ricklefs Mercer (Cindy). Older daughter of Margaret and Clarence. Born 1929.
Died 2017. Stanford ’50, Mathematics.
Joan Belinda Ricklefs (Belinda) (Bee). Younger daughter of Margaret and Clarence. Born
1936. Stanford ’57.
Lucinda Lyans Mercer. Older daughter of Cynthia Mercer and Robert Mercer. Born 1957.
Stanford ’78, Music.
Annette Linn Mercer. Younger daughter of Cynthia Mercer and Robert Mercer. Born 1960.
Marshall Somerville (Marsh). Second husband of Margaret Olsen. First wife was Hallie
Keating, Stanford ’28. Marsh wrote for The Chaparral. Father to Joyce Somerville and James
Somerville. Stanford, ’28.
Also included is some information relating to Geneva Matthews Olsen’s family – Matthews,
Sullins, and Perkins.
Papers of the multi-generational Olsen/Ricklefs family, many of whom attended and/or
graduated from Stanford University. Includes correspondence, diaries, and notebooks.
Stanford graduates include Margaret Olsen, class of 1928; Robert U. Ricklefs, class of 1931;
James Ricklefs. class of 1937; Cynthia Lyans Ricklefs Mercer, class of 1950; Joan Belinda
Ricklefs, class of 1957; Lucinda Lyans Mercer, class of 1978. Other family members who
attended Stanford, but did not earn degrees, include: George Frederic Olsen, Jr.; Clarence
L. Ricklefs; and Marshall Somerville.
The materials are open for research use; materials must be requested at least 48 hours in
advance of intended use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and
must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special
Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s) or assigns. Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Olsen/Ricklefs Family papers (SC1414). Dept. of Special Collections and University
Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Lucinda Lyans Mercer, 2018.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Student life.
Correspondence.
Diaries.
Mercer, Lucinda
Olsen, Margaret
Olsen, George Fredric
Olsen, Geneva Matthews
Olsen, George Frederic, Jr.
Olsen, Hildegard Matthews
Ricklefs, Clarence L.
Ricklefs, Robert U.
Ricklefs, Richard
Ricklefs, James
Mercer, Cynthia Lyans Ricklefs
Ricklefs, Joan Belinda
Mercer, Lucinda Lyans
Mercer, Annette Linn
Somerville, Marshall
Olsen/Ricklefs Family