Olsen, Chris E., 1880-1965

Person

Staff Only

Summary

Christian Emil Olsen was an artist, designer, entomologist and general naturalist who worked at the American Museum of Natural History for over 30 years. A native of Denmark, Olsen came to this country as a child and studied painting and modeling. Before coming to the Museum he worked as an architectural designer. Many of his works are in permanent exhibits at the Museum. He became famous for his undersea exhibits, including the coral reef and the pearl divers group in the Hall of Ocean Life. Using a diving helmet he created sketches underwater in the ocean before working on finished paintings. Olsen's special interest was entomology and he made numerous large scale models of insects, including the house fly, enlarged 262,144 times. After he retired he continued to work for the Museum and other museums on freelance projects from his studio in West Nyack. He also donated his personal collection of over 5,000 North American Hemiptera specimens to the Invertebrate Zoology Department in 1944.

Topics

AMNH People

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Chris Emil Olsen photographs

Collection

Identifier: PPC .O47

Scope and Contents

Photo collection of models and diorama construction for ocean life exhibtions.

Dates: 1903-1939

Found in: Museum Archives at the Gottesman Research Library / Chris Emil Olsen photographs

Exhibition Tools and Materials

Collection

Identifier: Mem 308

Scope and Contents Since its inception in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History had exhibitions related to the natural world, human cultures, and the universe. The habitat dioramas are predominantly featured in the Museum, with the first appearing in the late 1800s. A combination of distinct methods and tools was used to create the background, foreground, and taxidermy specimens that compose these exhibits, which improved with the advancement of technology and new knowledge.The exhibition...

Dates: Usage: circa 1887-1990s

Found in: Museum Archives at the Gottesman Research Library / Exhibition Tools and Materials

Libbie Hyman Memorabilia Collection

Collection

Identifier: MEM 22

Content Description

Artwork, Memorabilia and documents housed in Libbie Hyman's office space. Artwork includes watercolors of specimens by Childs, Verrill, Stevens and probably Hyman herself. Also ink drawings toward publication. Memorabilia includes her Typewriter, two sets of eyeglasses, suitcase, regalia.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1908 - 1969

Found in: Museum Archives at the Gottesman Research Library / Libbie Hyman Memorabilia Collection

Watercolor sketches for the Department of Invertebrates of the American Museum of Natural History by Chris E. Olsen

Collection

Identifier: RF-98-C

Scope and Contents Artwork of marine invertebrates made by Chris Olsen. Most of the illustrations are field watercolor sketches of coral and sponge specimens from Tarpon Springs, Florida, done in 1941 and 1942. Includes herbarium specimen from Tarpon Springs, Florida which may or may not have been collected by Olsen.The drawings of invertebrates from Tarpon Springs seem to have been created at a later time in the lab as they all date after the actual expedition. Each drawing notes when the...

Dates: 1912-1929; Majority of material found within ( 1941-1942)

Found in: Museum Archives at the Gottesman Research Library / Watercolor sketches for the Department of Invertebrates of the American Museum of Natural History by Chris E. Olsen

Olsen, Chris E., 1880-1965

Summary

Topics

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Chris Emil Olsen photographs

Exhibition Tools and Materials

Libbie Hyman Memorabilia Collection

Watercolor sketches for the Department of Invertebrates of the American Museum of Natural History by Chris E. Olsen

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