Writings<\/h1>\n

Pieces written by Ernest Carl Oberholtzer<\/h3>\n<\/div>

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Journal written by E. C. Oberholtzer, 1953 and 1954<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/div>

July 3, 1954<\/b><\/p>\n

Showers, cool.\u00a0 Temperature 50. Had spent two nights with Pete and Louise Reuter at their little home in Kieleher (?).\u00a0 On July 2, Pete drove me to various points in Red Lake, Minnesota and surroundings first to see a boat owned by Miss Beth Bergquist, then to look for wild grape vines, then to Ponema (So changed.\u00a0 The most striking feature the graves in the front yards), then after supper to Washkesh at the mouth of the broad, serene Tamarack River\u2014an attractive place.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reached Carlsons at noon on July 3, Oscar was waiting with the boat.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That afternoon planted a small basswood tree on boulders near ridge of Mallard, wild grape east edge of Root House, south side of Bird House, and a number of roots or plants at or near east end of cloud garden on the Hawk.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All wild flowers and fruits have bloomed profusely.\u00a0 Bunch berry and Solomon\u2019s Seal just finished. Spirea and high bush cranberry following and one Rojosa rose in full bloom.\u00a0 Cultured iris past their < > but (saw many wild iris, blue flag in the drainage ditches, while driving July 2 with Pete). White water lily leaves just reaching the surface.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

July 4<\/b><\/p>\n

Took Oscar (Gilbertson) to Carlsons at 11:30 in the morning, heard and saw a cat bird singing brilliantly in a tall choke cherry tree, had a fine chicken dinner with Carlsons, then went by boat to Roberts (no one home) then past Michael\u2019s for a while until I saw the \u201cS.S. Virginia\u201d returning to Roberts.\u00a0 Adam Turner and others there. Had supper. Then back to the Mallard at sunset just in time to see the Newhearts. At 10:15 p.m. hearing fireworks at the Boy\u2019s Camp, went on the roof in the hope of seeing something. Instead saw a tall crescent moon setting far in the north-west, open side toward the south.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brilliant Blackburnian Warbler, male, found dead in front of main house about June 1.\u00a0 Had probably flown into the house and broken its neck.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vivid orange throat and neck.\u00a0 Dash of orange on forehead and down centre of back.\u00a0 Tail black but with soft white down near rump on each side.\u00a0 Wings black except one lateral white feather mid-way. Underbody white but streaked with black near wings and shoulders.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Buried him in Snippie\u2019s grave on July 7, 1954.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was such a thing of beauty that I could hardly believe it dead and always wished I had had it mounted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sweet William is in bloom today and the yellow rose.\u00a0 The bittersweet vines are more loaded with blossoms than ever before.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Transcribed 4-29-14 by Beth Waterhouse from 5×8 inch red bound book with \u201cPermanent Record and Data\u201d and a small sticker on the front regarding \u201cCanoe Trip 1953 with Frederic Dalldorf\u201d written not in Ober\u2019s pencil.\u00a0 Canoe trip notes also exist here in pencil. Trip was July 24\u2013August 17, 1953. Ober was 69.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

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A letter from Ober to Ted Hall<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hand-written on French\u2019s Island but on green 1218 Flour Exchange letterhead for the Quetico-Superior-Council \u201cassociated with Izaak Walton League of America\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Dated:\u00a0 October 13, 1937 \/ Ober is 53. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

French\u2019s Island, Rainy Lake<\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday morning, Oct 13, 1937<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Teddy,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Harry French leaves for Philadelphia tonight, so there will be a chance to send mail by his boat. I have been here overnight but am returning to the Mallard right after breakfast.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The weather is cold and stormy. I was drenched when I arrived last night, and the spray and snow had frozen all over my clothes. This morning there\u2019s an inch or so of snow over everything.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It has interfered with the work at the Mallard, which isn\u2019t anywhere near finished. When he is sober, Emil is trying to build a fireplace, but the cement won\u2019t set (in) this weather. He has had Oscar Gilbertson helping him and the two of them sleep and eat most of the time at the Mallard.\u00a0 Right now they are at Emil\u2019s. I am to go this morning to Tilson Creek for a barge load of cedar poles. Old Man River house isn\u2019t even enclosed yet. I\u2019d like to have the doors and windows in place before winter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It looks as if I\u2019ll be leaving about November first or a little earlier. I may have to go to Winnipeg and Port Arthur first, and then to Minneapolis for a day or so, then to Toronto and other points in Canada for some weeks or longer. I am planning some months of intensive work again for the Council, if we can find funds for railway fare.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I have been up several times to see Billy. The last time I took him clothes for his funeral. He was in the wigwam near Mudge\u2019s and considerably improved. He sat outside in the sun and answered my questions. I took some excellent pictures of him with the Graflex, also some colored movies, which haven\u2019t yet been developed. I haven\u2019t a print of the best snapshot but am enclosing one of the others. They were all a little light-struck at one corner because of damage to the mirror of the camera, but they are so sharp and clear that I\u2019ll be able to make excellent enlargements. Of course, they do not show Billy at his best. He is too sick a man for that, but I\u2019m delighted to have them. I\u2019ll send you a good enlargement later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Billy has been moved now to Bad Vermillion. I\u2019m hoping somehow to see him again before I leave.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Had a fine letter from Laurie. Thinking of you today because of your birthday. I may not be able to send you any present \u2018till I reach the city but I want you to know how devotedly I\u2019m thinking of you and wishing all happiness and best fortune.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As ever, Ober.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Footnotes to the Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the <\/span><\/i>\u201cDeclaration of Trust\u201d <\/span><\/i>for the Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation, signed by all parties in 1962 and \u201863, Ernest C. Oberholtzer had the following to say about his intent.\u00a0 These thoughts were his footnotes to the Foundation documents that set up the Oberholtzer Foundation in 1964. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

\u201cThe main purpose of this Trust is to help bridge the gap, both economic and cultural, between aboriginal Indians of the continent and the more sophisticated [sic] white inhabitants of the present day\u2014and, it is hoped, to their mutual advantage.\u00a0 In order to discover, proclaim, and encourage endeavors to that end AWARDS shall be made from time to time under this Trust for significant contributions, particularly by Indians, to their own special economy or to a better understanding in general of Indian culture, talents and ideals.\u00a0 These AWARDS may be for exemplary leadership in these fields, for works of art or creative productions of any sort that reveal, as seldom or never before, the special genius of the Indian, or even for exceptional acts of mercy or of valor that redown to the self-respect, pride and dignity of the Indian.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn example, among others, of the opportunity for creative leadership of this sort, which this Trust is intended to encourage, lies in the protection of primitive wilderness such as Indians knew before the advent of white men.\u00a0 No natural resource of the continent today is vanishing so fast or hopelessly as the original primitive scene and its living creatures. It is a basic problem of today for both white men and red. Out of the wilderness sprang the Indians.\u00a0 They are an integral part of it. They were its custodians for untold centuries. Today they offer a main hope for its future\u2014one that lies above all within the scope of their genius and traditions. Their very mode of life was as creative as the wilderness itself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMuch of the cream of the primitive American wilderness remains today on Indian tribal lands all over the continent, including Alaska.\u00a0 These lands present an unrivaled creative opportunity even at this late moment for the survival of the living wilderness and its creatures in a form and on a scale commensurate with future needs of all our people.\u00a0 These lands, however, belong wholly to the Indians and are theirs not only legally but by every tenet of justice. A plan to meet the need of all Americans for wilderness of this type, if initiated on their own lands by the Indians themselves but with just compensation by the government for the proposed use, would establish what might well be called \u201cUniversities of the Wilderness;\u201d the Indians themselves, with their centuries of primitive wisdom, might well qualify for the faculty.\u00a0 Such areas, while remaining the homeland of the Indians, would not only serve the common need for primitive travel and inspiration but should prove permanent, undefiled sources for the study of the creative processes of nature.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the purposes of this trust Eskimos shall be regarded as the same as Indians.\u00a0 Moreover, nothing in the Trust shall be interpreted to prevent the granting of AWARDS to others than Indians themselves, if in the judgment of the Trustees the same or better results are likely to be achieved by so doing.\u00a0 Nor shall it be obligatory to grant AWARDS where none seems to be merited.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFurthermore, whatever contributes toward solving the great problem of the American Indian and of the waste of his human gifts and of his wilderness endowment is pertinent to this Trust and worthy of scrutiny for remedies based on wiser policies.\u00a0 The wasteful and unseemly conflict both in human values and in the use of primitive natural resources is world-wide. Tolerance, understanding, recognition that all races, out of their special genius and experience, have something to give for the common good were never more needed.\u00a0 Therefore any outstanding contribution in the world that seeks recognition of primitive virtues and of their historical physical basis and thus opens new vistas for collaboration between the dominant race and the minority, submerged or outcast race, may to that extent become pertinent to the objectives of this Trust.\u00a0 Even such partial but highly significant work as Dr. Schweitzer\u2019s in Africa may have value, particularly if equal or better contributions are not available in our own country.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

___signed_____________________________________________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

Ernest C. Oberholtzer, settlor<\/span><\/p>\n

[end of Ober\u2019s statement]\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Additional language found on the original:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor accomplishing the purposes of this Trust, considering that its awards are in recognition of achievements rather than Grants for particular tasks still to be carried out, the size of the Award seems less important than the quality of the contributions.\u201d E.C.O.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Lakes of Verendrye<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A Practical Peace Proprosal<\/p>\n

To Perpetuate by Treaty, Under a Balanced Program of Conservation, the Forested Lakeland of the Ontario-Minnesota Border — A Historic Portion of the Continent — As It Originally Was with Its Forest, Its Game, Its Lakes, and Its Richly Romantic Past.<\/p>\n<\/div>