Guide to the Olsen/Ricklefs Family papers SC1414
Jenny Johnson
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
June 2018
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
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.
Biographical / Historical
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
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
Papers Accession ARCH_2018_146
Letters to and from Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) Somerville
Scope and Contents
Letters to and from Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) Somerville to various family members.
She typed almost all of her letters and kept carbon copies, so the files are
essentially both sides of the correspondence.
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to parents/family (Stanford
years)
1924-1928
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to parents/family
1931-1932
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to daughter, Cynthia (while Cynthia was at
Stanford)
1946-1950
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to daughter, Cynthia
1953-1954
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to second husband, Marshall
Somerville
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to grand-daughter, Lucinda Mercer (while
Lucinda was at Stanford)
1974-1979
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to grand-daughter, Lucinda Mercer,
later
after 1979
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to grand-daughter, Annette Mercer (while
Annette was at UC San Diego)
1977-1981
Box 1
From Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to grand-daughter, Annette Mercer,
later
after 1981
Box 1
Letters from various Stanford friends
Box 1
“932 Chronicles” (old letters from her long-time home in Los
Angeles)
Box 2
Geneva Matthews Olsen’s diaries
1932-1952
Scope and Contents
Geneva Matthews Olsen’s diaries from 1932-1952. Largely daily life recording
appointments, meetings, events. Many entries are descriptive. Some comments on current
events.
Box 2
George Fredric Olsen and Geneva Matthews notebooks
1902-1903
Scope and Contents
Two notebooks from about 1902-1903 in which George Fredric Olsen and Geneva Matthews
wrote notes to each other while in college.
Box 3
Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) Somerville’s diaries
1948; 1952-1983
Scope and Contents
Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) Somerville’s diaries from 1948 and from 1952-1983. Also
diary summaries and an address book.
Box 4
Letters from Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) to her parents, George Fredric Olsen,
Sr. and Geneva
1928-1933
Box 4
Letters from George Fredric Olsen, Sr. to Geneva, also a few to Margaret
Olsen as a baby
1905-1914; 1936; 1937; 1953
Box 4
Letters between Clarence Ricklefs and his grand-daughter, Lucinda
Mercer
Box 4
George Fredric Olsen Jr.’s letters, clippings, and other
memorabilia
1943-1944
Scope and Contents
Includes letters written while in the War Office, approximately 1943-1944. Also
information relating to his work with Lane Drugs.
Box 4
Information about James Ricklefs (cousin to Clarence)
Box 4
Richard Ricklefs letters and estate documents
Box 4
Clarence Ricklefs letters to Cynthia and Robert Mercer
1923
Scope and Contents
Includes diary, notes from his last years at the Jewish Home for the Aged in San
Francisco.
Box 4
Family trip memories
1951-1979
Box 4
Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) stories and essays (possibly college
era)
Box 4
Margaret Olsen (Ricklefs) legal
Scope and Contents
Divorce, old estate issues, letters relating to the involuntary commitment of
Marshall Somerville’s first wife, Hallie Keating.
Box 5
Family History - Sullins and Matthews
Box 5
Letters to and from Geneva Matthews Olsen and George Fredric Olsen,
Sr.
Box 5
George Fredric Olsen, Sr. Clippings and other memorabilia
Box 5
Framed certificate on the 50th anniversary of George Fredric Olsen’s
graduation from Purdue
Box 5
Stanford Lit (3 bound volumes)
1925-1928
Scope and Contents
Margaret Olsen was the Editor in her senior year (1927-28) and many of her friends
wrote for the Lit.
Additional Papers Accession ARCH-2019-009
Lucinda Mercer to Robert & Cynthia Mercer
Box 6, Folder 1-2
SUNY Binghamton, MBA
1980-1982
Box 6, Folder 1-2
Summer Travel in Europe
1980
Box 6, Folder 3-4
Letters, cards, etc. Including Camille Cole (5/15/1990), Maia Cole
(5/2/1992)
1984-1992
Box 7, Folder 1
Letters, emails, cards
1993-1995
Box 7, Folder 2
Letters, mostly email. Reference to Camille Cole (5/15/1990), Maia Cole
(5/2/1992)
1996-1997
Box 7, Folder 3
Letters, mostly email.
1998-1999
Box 7, Folder 5
Letters, mostly email. Most from England where Lucinda Mercer, Richard Cole
& daughters were on Sabbatical for a year).
2000-2001
Box 7, Folder 6
Emails, letters, cards. Ends with Camille Cole as a freshman at Pomona
College.
2002-2008
Camille Cole to Robert & Cynthia Mercer
