James C. Olson (Bradgate, Iowa, 1917 – August 17, 2005) was an American historian, educator and school administrator; he was president of the University of Missouri System.
With a doctorate from the University of Nebraska, he served during World War II as a historian for the United States Army Air Forces.
Afterward he served for a decade as director of the Nebraska State Historical Society.
He received a bachelor's degree from Morningside College in 1938 and an MA and PhD from the University of Nebraska in 1939 and 1942.
During World War II he was a historian for the United States Army Air Forces.