After decades away, a book about camping in the wilderness has returned to the University of British Columbia library.
No, the book didn't go on a trip to rediscover itself; it was borrowed in 1960 by a young university student who took an extraordinary amount of time to return it.
In January 2025, the UBC library at the Vancouver campus received a package from Robert Murray, class of 1963. Murray had mailed Camping and Woodcraft: Handbook for Vacation Campers and for Travelers in the Wilderness back to the university's library.
The book was a mere 64 years overdue.
Now 83 and living in B.C.'s interior, he sent UBC the book, a letter explaining why he kept the book, and a $100 cheque, according to a press release.
“I determined that this book was a treasure—a light year ahead of anything published on the subject at the time I borrowed it, and it has remained so over anything I’ve seen published since,” he wrote.
Originally published in 1906 by Horace Kephart, the edition Murray had was printed in 1931 (the year Kephart died). It was essentially a series of articles Kephart had written for the magazine Field and Stream republished as a book. Kephart was a notable author when it came to outdoor guides; there's a mountain named after him in the Great Smoky Mountains.
While some books sent back to libraries after long periods of time are forgotten or lost before being found and returned, Camping and Woodcraft was well-read by Murray, who found it useful, according to the press release.
It may have even saved his life and the life of his son.
The pair were hiking and got lost years ago. When a downpour hit and their compass got distracted by a magnetic anomaly they had to build a shelter. Murray recalled and followed the advice from the book including building a lean-to instead of a tent.
"A few years later, my son then mentioned that small tents were no good in the rain, and I asked, ‘Who taught you that?’ He said, ‘You did!'" writes Murray.
'Ideal' caretaker
Murray kept the book in good condition, and it'll soon be back in rotation at the library.
“Although he returned it six decades late, he was an ideal library book caretaker,” says university librarian Susan Parker in the release. “I’ve seen books deteriorated more that were loaned out for much shorter periods of time."
She notes one book had been returned after bacon was used as a bookmark.
The letter is also appreciated, adds Parker.
“He could have just mailed the book back without saying anything, but the fact that he shared his story was really special,” she says. “I loved knowing that he had a really great practical use for it and the book was really important to him.”
While the $100 cheque will be accepted, the UBC library doesn't actually have overdue fees anymore. They were eliminated in 2020.
