This paper reviews some methods of analysis of oil shales that are currently used by the Laramie Energy Technology Center, and describes new developments in magnetic resonance for the analysis of oil shales. Analytical methods that are discussed include the determination of the elemental composition of oil shales, and assay methods to determine potential oil yields. Cross polarization, magic angle spinning carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and results are presented to illustrate the type of information that is obtainable for oil shales with the new magnetic resonance techniques.