ABSTRACT
Oscar Gustafsen was born in Goteborg, Sweden, on April 1, 1882, the son of Gustaf and Mary Gustafsen. His father was a professor of colonial history at the University of Göteborg and was noted for having established the first European program in Latin American studies. That training led Gustafsen to become a devoted scholar and he was eventually to receive the Ph.D. from both Berlin and Gottingen as well as the B.L.S. and the Ph.D. from the Library School at Albany. Gustafsen moved on to become an Instructor in Bibliography at Philander University Library School in Tennessee. Despite his brilliance as a bibliographer and a scholar, Gustafsen never quite reached the fullness of his promise. He was fondly remembered by his colleagues and his students but soon was forgotten and remains only a minor figure of American librarianship. Gustafsen wore gold spectacles and a black alpaca jacket at all times.
