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George N. Olcott was a Latin professor and Columbia University’s
first lecturer in Roman archaeology. He was born in Brooklyn, New York
in 1869. He received his A.B. from the University in 1893 and his PhD in
1899 and began teaching Latin and Roman archaeology at Columbia im-
mediately upon receiving his doctorate. As a professor, Olcott collected a
large number of antiquities, in particular coins and epigraphy fragments,
to use as teaching tools. Because of his love of numismatics he ended up
having one of the largest and best collections in the United States.
Professor Olcott died of pneumonia in 1912 while in sabbatical in
Italy. His grandfather, Charles M. Olcott, was President of the Brooklyn
Institute of Arts and Sciences 1851-1853 and his wife Zita L. Olcott sold
the following lots 69-93 to Toledo museum in 1912.
Professor George N. Olcott