The Oelslager Files

More than ten years ago now, I was introduced to the writings of Dr. Robert. W. “Doc” Oelslager.  I had stumbled across a PDF copy of his Bushcraft, Scouting & Woodlore: Notes, Vol. I, it was full of all sorts on interesting tidbits on outdoor life and woods lore.  I was enthralled! 

 

The Forward from Bushcraft, Scouting & Woodlore: Notes, Vol. I

Since the title ended with the words “Vol. I”, I assumed that there must be a Volume II, and so I began a search for the elusive Dr. R. W. Oelslager.  In 2008, an internet search for someone was not as easily done as it is today, especially since I only knew his first initial and not his whole first name. 

I got lucky and I found an address that I thought might work, and so I drafted a letter and mailed it out with hope and crossed fingers, on May 23, 2008.  Then I waited and waited so more.  You see unknown to me, while I had mailed my message in a bottle to the right address, Dr. Robert W. Oelslager was suffering from Alzheimers and my letter sat on his desk, as neither he nor his wife knew what to do with it.  It wasn’t until 2009, that I received a message back from his son, Robert J. Oelslager.

Robert J. Oelslager informed that his Father was not well and had been moved to an assisted living facility at about the same time that I had written to him.  He wrote me “Dad was never intent on making a lot of money with the book, his greater concern was that the book GETS USED.  It was intended to be a resource for Scouters, Scouts and outdoorsmen alike.  He felt the information should be put into practice and passed on.”  He also informed me that his father had been called “Doc” for the 55 years that he had been active with the Boy Scouts.

I promised him that I would do my best to make sure that his Father’s writings were passed on and he sent me, six volumes of his Father’s writings.  He also let me know that Dr. Robert William “Doc” Oelslager had lost his battle with Alzheimers on February 14, 2010.

Ten years ago, blogging was in its infancy, quite honestly even having a website was cutting edge, and I didn’t know how to go about keeping my promise.  The years came and went and so did personal tragedies and my promise remained unfilled.

I am happy to say that today I know how to keep my promise to Robert J. Oelslager and will begin to publish his Father’s works on my blog page under the label “The Oelslager Files”.  I hope that Scouters, Scouts and outdoorsman alike all get all of the same enjoyment, entertainment and education that I have.

Sources:

Dr. Robert. W. Oelslager, Bushcraft, Scouting & Woodlore: Notes, Vol. I, Privately Published