The Papers of Norman Olson are arranged into two series: Personal Records, and Collected Resources and Publications. The collection documents aspects of his personal life and interests during his time as a leader and member of the Michigan Militia, as well as his understanding of politics, government, and American society.
Norman Olson was a gun shop owner and pastor from Alanson, Michigan. He and one other person, Ray Southwell, founded the Michigan Militia in 1994. They created this organization in reaction to what they perceived as the government overstepping its authority during the 1990's, in the process threatening personal rights, especially on issues relating to the ownership of firearms and property rights. They expressed additional concern over the United Nations and a concept of an emerging "New World Order". The Michigan Militia faced intense scrutiny from media and law enforcement following the Oklahoma City Bombing. Two bomb suspects, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, were said to have attended a meeting of the organization but were not actually members. The group's leadership forced Olson to resign as commander in a matter of weeks after the bombing because of his view that linked the Japanese to the Oklahoma City attack. In July 1995 Olson broke from the Michigan Militia entirely, after having lost an internal election to regain his position as commander. He went on to form his own militia, the Northern Michigan Regional Militia.
This second organization shared much of the same ideas and ideology as the first. Olson strongly believed that the federal government and United Nations were a very real threat to the individual rights of American citizens. Within the context of US and world history, and militaristic organization, the Michigan Militia and Northern Michigan Regional Militia sought to recruit, educate, and train members to defend themselves and others against any such encroachment by government authority.
