This review is dedicated to the memory of professor AGU AARNA, the founder and scientific supervisor of the Laboratory of Oil Shale Chemistry at the Tallinn Technical University. Development of the synthesis and application technology of adhesive resins from shale oil dihydric phenols is reviewed together with later studies concerning various resorcinol and 5-methylresorcinol poly- and co-polycondensates as well as their co-condensates with phenol and amides.