Guide to the Olav Boen Collection

Collection

Identifier: OPVSIEmss_281

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains various documents and items that Olav Boen kept during his lifetime. During the first decade of the twentieth century, he kept a scrapbook where he saved programs and tickets from events he attended, wedding invitations, and greeting cards from friends. He also kept a few loose brochures and programs, which span the years 1912 to 1971. He also accumulated photographs and postcards from his travels, mostly to Norway. The collection also contains newspaper articles, both in English and Norwegian, documenting Boen’s activity in the Scandinavian community in the Pacific Northwest.

Dates

1900-1977

Creator

Boen, Olav (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Olav Boen was born in 1881. He emigrated from Norway in 1900 and lived in Denver, Colorado, before moving to Seattle. He was a Seattle contractor for the Pacific Northwest branch of Associated General Contractors and was involved in building the Norway Center on 300 3rd Avenue W. in Seattle. He was honored for outstanding accomplishment as the Associated General Contractors’ chairman of apprenticeship and training, which he helped form He was also well known for his philanthropic contributions to funding the installation of church art work in Norway. Olav Boen was a dedicated member of the Norwegian Male Chorus of Seattle. He joined the Chorus in 1902 and served as president during the 1950's and 60's. Boen was a long-time resident of Ballarda and was a very active member of the Scandinavian community.