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Erling Tholfsen

1904 – 1996

American chess player

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About Erling Tholfsen

Lived 1904 – 1996 (aged 92). Erling Tholfsen was an American chess player.

Erling Tholfsen (12 January 1904 – 6 December 1996) was an American chess player, Chess Olympiad team silver medal winner.

Biography In the 1920s Erling Tholfsen was one of the leading American chess players. He three times won New York City Marshall Chess Club Championships (1923, 1924, 1931).

Erling Tholfsen played for United States in the Chess Olympiad: In 1928, as team captain in the 2nd Chess Olympiad in The Hague (+4, =5, -4) and won team silver medal.

Erling Tholfsen retired from chess tournaments after the Great Depression. He worked as a Spanish teacher in the New York City public school system and was very active in the labor movement for many years.

Erling Tholfsen was exempt from the WW2 draft due to his age and having two small children. He was placed in charge of the US War Bond drive for James Madison High School. The drive was the most successful school drive in the United States. The school sold enough bonds to purchase a B-24 Liberator bomber. Tholfsen and his team received a presidential award, which was sent to NYC Mayor LaGuardia's office for presentation to the team.

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Important facts

People in Erling Tholfsen's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Erling Tholfsen's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Erling Tholfsen?

American chess player (1904–1996)

When was Erling Tholfsen born?

Erling Tholfsen was born on 12 January 1904 in New York City.

When did Erling Tholfsen die?

Erling Tholfsen died on 6 December 1996 in New York City, United States.

What was Erling Tholfsen's occupation?

Erling Tholfsen was a chess player.

What nationality was Erling Tholfsen?

Erling Tholfsen was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Erling Tholfsen

· Wikidata: Q4460086

· DBpedia: Erling Tholfsen

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Erling Tholfsen. https://biography.guide/erling-tholfsen/

MLA: "Erling Tholfsen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/erling-tholfsen/.

Chicago: "Erling Tholfsen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/erling-tholfsen/.

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