Andrew O'Dell facts for kids
Andrew Charles O'Dell (1909–1966) was a Scottish geographer and a person who studied old objects and history. He was very interested in railways and collected many items related to trains. This large collection is now kept at Aberdeen University and is known as the O'Dell Collection. He also helped start an important group for geographers, called the Institute of British Geographers, in 1933.
He became well-known to many people because he was involved in finding the amazing St Ninian's Isle Treasure in Shetland in 1959.
Life of Andrew O'Dell
Andrew O'Dell was born on June 4, 1909. His birthplace was Luipardsvlei in the Transvaal Colony, which is now part of South Africa. His father was Charles O'Dell, and his mother came from the Scottish Borders.
He went to school at Westminster City School in London. After that, he studied Geography at Kings College, which is part of the University of London. In 1945, he became the head of the Geography Department at Aberdeen University in Scotland.
In 1951, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a special honor for people who have done important work in science and learning. He passed away suddenly on June 17, 1966.
Discovering the St Ninian's Isle Treasure
One of the most exciting things Andrew O'Dell was involved in was the discovery of the St Ninian's Isle Treasure. This happened in 1959 on St Ninian's Isle in Shetland, Scotland.
The treasure was found by a local schoolboy named Douglas Coutts. He was digging near an old church ruin and found a wooden box. Inside the box were many beautiful silver objects. These included bowls, brooches, and other pieces from the 8th century.
Andrew O'Dell, as a geographer and antiquarian, played a key role in studying and understanding this important find. The treasure is one of the most significant discoveries of early Scottish silver. It tells us a lot about the people who lived in Scotland long ago.
Family Life
In 1938, Andrew O'Dell married Queenie Louise Smith.
