Harry F. Olson

Dates

December 28, 1901 – April 1, 1982

Authorized Form of Name

Olson, Harry F. (Harry Ferdinand), 1901-1982

Additional Forms of Names

Olson, Harry Ferdinand, 1901-1982

Biography

Abstract

Harry Olson was Vice President of Acoustics and Electromechanical Research at the RCA Research Laboratories of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) (1966-1968). His work at RCA led to the development of several types of microphones for broadcasting and recording, high-fidelity loudspeakers, phonograph pickups and recording equipment, underwater sound equipment, and sound motion picture and public address systems. He also contributed to the development of the RCA magnetic tape recorder for television and the RCA music synthesizer.

Important Dates

December 28, 1901Birth, Mount Pleasant (Iowa).

1924Obtained BE in Electrical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City (Iowa).

1925Obtained MS, University of Iowa, Iowa City (Iowa).

1928Obtained PhD in Acoustics, University of Iowa, Iowa City (Iowa).

1928 – 1930Assistant, RCA Research Laboratories, Radio Corporation of America (RCA), Princeton (N.J.).

1930 – 1932Engineer, Engineering Department, Photophone Division, Radio Corporation of America (RCA).

1932 – 1982Director, Acoustics Research (1932-1942); Director, Acoustics and Electromechanical Laboratory (1942-1966); Vice President, Acoustics and Electromechanical Research (1966-1968); and Consultant (1968-1982), RCA Research Laboratories, Radio Corporation of America (RCA), Princeton (N.J.).

1953 – 1954President, Acoustical Society of America.

1959Member, National Academy of Sciences.

April 1, 1982Death, Princeton (N.J.).

Occupation

Acoustician.

Places

Subjects

Electrical engineering.

Microphone.

Physics -- Industrial applications.

Sound.

Relationships

People

Family

Olson, Lorene Johnson

Wife. Married in 1935.

Institutions

Major Positions

Radio Corporation of America

Assistant, RCA Research Laboratories; Engineer, Engineering Department, Photophone Division; Director, Acoustics Research, RCA Research Laboratories; Director, Acoustics and Electromechanical Laboratory, RCA Research Laboratories; Vice President, Acoustics and Electromechanical Research, RCA Research Laboratories; and Consultant.