Institutions University of Oslo Notable awards Royal Society Name Olaf Holtedahl Institution University of Oslo | Role Geologist Awards Wollaston Medal Died August 26, 1975 | |
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Born June 24, 1885 ( 1885-06-24 ) | ||
Prof Olaf Holtedahl ForMemRS FRSE (24 June 1885 – 26 August 1975) was a Norwegian geologist, Dr.philos. in 1913, senior lecturer at the University of Oslo in 1914, and Professor of geology there from 1920 to 1956.
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Career
He was born in Oslo, Norway the son of Arne H. Holtedahl, superintendent of pauper administration, and his wife, Mathilde Madsen.
Around 1903 he did his obligatory military service at Gardemoen, just north of Oslo, and here met Captain Gunnar Isachsen who greatly influenced him, and first inspired his interest in polar regions. In 1909, Isachsen invited Holtedahl to join him in explorations of Spitsbergen as official geologist of the group.
He studied Geology at the University of Oslo, graduating in 1909 and receiving a doctorate in 1913. Staying in the university as staff he received his professorship in 1920.
Holtedahl was among the last of a generation of geologists that mastered the subject in all its breadth. He delivered a significant contribution, not only in Norway but also for large areas of the Arctic and Antarctic. His first geological work dealt with the Oslo Rift in kambrosilur, and he was part of the 1909-11 expeditions to Svalbard, 1914-17 he explored Lapland Geology, 1918, he worked at Bear Island. In 1921 he led a Norwegian expedition to Novaya Zemlya and was 1927-28 with the Lars Christensen's Antarctic expeditions, from these expeditions he edited the scientific results. He was Doctoral advisor of Professor Bjørn G. Andersen, and was the main initiator of his Quaternary geological works.
In the Second World War he was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement.
He died in Oslo on 26 August 1975.
Family
He married Tora Gurstad in 1912. Their children include Professor of geology Hans Holtedahl (1917–2001).