Margaret Osler (1942-2010) was a historian of science and philosophy who published widely on the scientific revolution and on the connection between religion and early science. In her two books and more than 125 articles, Osler focused in particular on the work of Pierre Gassendi, Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton. Osler was a member of the faculty at the University of Calgary for thirty-five years.
Access to Margaret Osler's diary in Series 2 is restricted due to provisions set by the donor. All requests for access to this material should be directed to the University Archivist.
Scope and Content Notes
The Margaret Osler Papers include correspondence, manuscripts, research notes and photographs documenting Osler's scholarly activities and personal affairs. One highlight of the collection is Osler's extensive though not complete translation of Pierre Gassendi's Syntagma Philosophicum, a translation that was never published. The papers also include a large volume of correspondence between Osler and her parents, as well as a wide array of manuscripts and subject files related to Osler's scholarly interests. An extensive photograph collection rounds out the collection.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Dr. Margaret Jo Osler was born on November 27, 1942 in New York City, New York. After graduating from Swarthmore College in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Osler went on her earn her M. A. and Ph. D. from Indiana University in 1966 and 1968, respectively. She completed her doctoral thesis, John Locke and Some Philosophical Problems in the Science of Boyle and Newton, under the supervision of historian Richard S. Westfall.
Osler was hired by Oregon State University as an Assistant Professor immediately after completing her studies at Indiana. She went on to teach briefly at Harvey Mudd College and Wake Forest University before finding her permanent academic home at the University of Calgary, where she taught History of Science (1975-2010) and Philosophy (1998-2008).
A prolific author, Osler wrote two books, edited four and published over 125 articles, essays and reviews in prominent journals including The British Journal for the History of Philosophy. In addition to her published works, Osler wrote at least as many unpublished papers and essays that she presented at various symposia and conferences. Much of her work focused on the scientific revolution - specifically on religion and its connection to early science, with an emphasis on the work of scientists and philosophers Pierre Gassendi, Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton.
Osler died of pancreatic cancer in September 2010 at the age of 69, just three months after the publication of her second book, Reconfiguring the World: Nature, God, and Human Understanding in Early Modern Europe.
Arrangement
The Margaret Osler Papers are arranged into six series: Correspondence; Biographical Materials; Academia, Subject Files and Research Materials; Manuscripts, Articles and Books; and Photographs. Materials are organized either chronologically or alphabetically by subject heading, as appropriate.
Acquisition Note:
Forty linear feet of assorted archival materials were accessioned from the estate of Margaret Osler by the OSU Libraries Special Collections on November 29, 2010.
One folder of correspondence was accessioned from Paul Farber by the OSU Libraries Special Collections on January 5, 2011.
Four linear feet of photographs and correspondence were accessioned from Francine Michaud, University of Calgary, by the OSU Libraries Special Collections on May 25, 2011.
