AGMC history – a long time ago
The following are short excerpts from past editions of the AGMC News Nuggets and the newsletter that preceded it.
January 1959, AGMC newsletter
In AGMC’s first of two meetings for this month, presided over by president John F. Beavers, in the Geology building on UNM campus, the outstanding events of 1958 would pass in review via photos of: club events, Field Trips, the Rocky Mountain Federation Convention and mineral show in Phoenix, Arizona and the State Fair show.
It was reported that the Club’s Christmas party and potluck had a turnout of one hundred and forty people.
At the month’s second meeting, the election of officers would take place via members whose yearly $3 dues were paid. Student dues are $1.50 and Family memberships are $8.00 per year.
John F. Beavers would be elected for his second of three consecutive terms as President of AGMC.
Submitted by AGMC Historian, David Moats
February 1958, AGMC Newsletter
“A ROCK IS BORN” – The above subject is the first in our Educational Series. This Series will take fifteen minutes at every meeting, with two or three exceptions, and will cover the basic information on Mineralogy, given in simple terms. Mr. Guy Shockley, one of our own members, well qualified in this field, will start us off in the right direction …. Consented to outline the Series for us, because so many members asked for a planned educational program … Please bring a book to take notes. The Series will last at least a year.
(Mr. & Mrs. Guy Shockley were Charter Members with AGMC card #1)
March 1984 News Nuggets
AGMC has pledged $l,000 over a period of five years to support initial construction of the museum (N.M. Museum of Natural History). Club members are also encouraged, as individuals, to attend their lectures and field trips, and to serve as volunteer workers.
Submitted by AGMC Historian, David Moats
April 1954, AGMC newsletter
THIS IS THE NIGHT of your Club’s annual auction. More fun than a barrel of rocks, and remember, all proceeds go into the Club’s treasury and eventually enriches every member. By tradition, this is your Club’s only fund raising project during the year, and need we say, should be enjoyed and supported by EVERY MEMBER. What happens? Briefly, each member donates a rock specimen (no junk please) to the club, then our auctioneer auctions it off to the highest bidder.
May 1954, AGMC newsletter
Several of our members have not yet picked up their notebook. It will be at this meeting for you, and if you are a new member and have not yet received the packet of rock specimens, the club presents to each new member, we have one for you.
February 1967 newspaper article
It was Dr. Kelley, who in 1944, taught a non-credit class in minerals and prospecting at UNM Community College. During the class, Oscar Branson, a graduate student, suggested a club composed of people interested in gems and minerals in New Mexico would be an interesting continuation of the course. Other class members agreed and the Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club began. The Club’s first president was the late Guy Shockley.
Interesting Tidbit – by John Reinert
September 1954 newspaper clipping by Marjorie Solenberger
“GEM and MINERAL CLUB OFFERS SERVICEMEN AN INEXPENSIVE and INTERESTING HOBBY”
Locally based military personnel interested in beginning an inexpensive new hobby should look into the activities of the Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club. This active group of friendly “rock-hounds” meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the lecture room of the Geology Building of the University of New Mexico, Yale St. just off Central.
Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club was organized in 1942 as an outgrowth of a university class that studied strategic minerals. Of the original 12 members about three fourths are still active.
The organization’s primary purpose is the exchange of information and furtherance of knowledge of mineralogy, gem cutting and geology…
Noted for its friendliness and for introducing new areas in New Mexico to newcomers, the club sponsors a monthly field trip. For the newly located serviceman these excursions are valuable as they take club members and their families into areas that otherwise are marked “no trespassing” for private individuals. Such was the last trip attended by about 50 members who visited the Harding Mine out of Dixon which lies about 65 miles north of Santa Fe. Under the direction of Dr. Arthur Montgomery, owner of the mine, the “rock-hounds’ devoted many hours to finding unusual samples to add to their collections. Iceland spar, a calcite of optical quality, was found in the dumps, remains from a deposit that produced what is claimed to be the largest natural lens ever found.
Dave Moats
AGMC 1947
During the first two years of the club’s existence, field trips were somewhat limited due to transportation difficulties. However some trips were made and, since the end of the war, numerous trips of large and small groups and by individuals bringing many an interesting gem or mineral specimen back.
The first trip made by the club as a group was to the San Pedro mine, shortly after the organization of the club. Transportation was in trucks supplied through the courtesy of Jack Nichols.
Minerals to be found : Copper minerals including malachite, chrysocolla, and ”melanconite” (a dark brown pitchy-appearing material which is a mixture of tenorite (copper oxide) with various impurities such as chrysocolla, limonite, chalcedony, and manganese oxides), quartz crystals, garnets, goethite after Pyrite and many more.
John D. Reinert
Sometime in 1953 AGMC newsletter
The following is from AGMC’s 1st newsletter, undated and in a one page format, sometime in 1953.
ALBUQUERQUE GEM AND MINERAL CLUB NEWS, Louis W. Heister, Editor
One of the purposes of a club bulletin is to conduct a slightly educational program so far as minerals are concerned. A good mineral to begin on is hackmanite. Hackmanite is a sodium mineral, is fluorescent, and possesses one of the rarest properties in the mineral world. It is a photosensitive mineral and in addition to being fluorescent, changes color upon exposure upon an ultraviolet lamp. It is a grayish-white mineral, but after exposure changes to a pink that looks much like lepidolite. After several hours exposure to natural light it again becomes its regular color.
Submitted by Dave Moats
September 1959 AGMC newsletter concerning the State Fair:
The SHOCKLEY AWARD is also something new. Those who have won a blue ribbon in any class prior to 1958 are eligible to enter. The entry should be identical, to the best of your knowledge and belief, to the original and should have the ribbon showing the year and stating the original classification. This award is being presented by Guy and Ida Shockley and should be something all members should start working for. Those who win a blue ribbon this year will be eligible for the award in 1960.
June 1966 News Nuggets
Guy M. Shockley held a unique position as a Senior Member of our Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club. He was a Charter Member of the founding group, and held membership card #1. He served as our Club’s second President in 1946 and again as President in 1949. During this term he was also Honored to serve as President of the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
Submitted by Dave Moats
July 1954 AGMC newsletter
Announcing field trip – ALL ABOARD for the gala 4th of July week-end field trip and visit to Durango, Colorado as guests of the Four Corners Rock Club of Durango … Field trip in and around the beautiful countryside of Durango and FEATURING a ride on the famous old narrow gauge railway…. The day will be spent (if you choose) digging in an old Indian ruin. You can have artifacts you unearth. Bring your shovels. The TRAIN RIDE on the old narrow gauge to Silverton…. Your cost for this trip will be $2.26 per person, round trip. There are limited motel accommodations available. If you require a motel, let us know your needs at least two weeks in advance. Reservations will be made for you. All motel reservations will be accommodated on a first come-first served basis.
February 1970 News Nuggets
Ask yourself, “What have I done during the past year that has been of any benefit to the Club? What would become of our Club if every member had done exactly as I have done? How many times have I been absent when I could have been present without great effort? Am I going to continue in the same old way or am I going to become active in the Club? Is it right for someone else to do all the work, and for me to expect an equal share of the benefits? Should I not earn my way rather than just belong?”
Wayne E. Fisher – (AGMC President in 1970)
Submitted by Dave Moats
Oct 1959 AGMC newsletter
“MINERALS OF NEW MEXICO” by Stuart A. Northrop. The first edition of Dr. Northrop’s book was published in 1942 and reprinted in 1944. The new and revised edition, about to be published by the University of New Mexico press, contains 681 pages and describes many new minerals including those resulting from the intensive search for uranium. Stuart A. Northrop is Professor of Geology, Chairman of the Department, and Curator of the Geology Museum at the University of New Mexico. A resident of Albuquerque since 1928, Dr. Northrop became head of the UNM Geology Department in 1929, and in 1937 established its Geology Museum. Since 1941 he has served as collaborator in seismology for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and since 1943 he has been geologist for the Fuels Branch of the U.S. Geological Survey.
Born in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1904, Stuart A. Northrop was an undergraduate at Robert College, Constantinople, and Yale University where he received his B.S. in 1925 and Ph.D. in 1929. He is a member of the Paleontological Society, the Seismological Society of America, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Sigma Xl. A fellow of the Geological Society of America, Dr. Northrop was chairman of its Rocky Mountain Section in 1955-56. He was president of the New Mexico Geological Society in 1949-50.
Submitted by Dave Moats
November 1958 newsletter
We are starting a NEW EVENT. There have been talks on physical properties of minerals, crystallography, etc. Now you will have a chance to test your knowledge and win PRIZES, TOO. We shall have two groups of minerals, one for our beginners in mineralogy, and one for those a bit more advanced. The prizes and minerals for identification will be furnished by Mr. Guy Shockley and Mrs. Lois Heister. Come and try your luck, and in the process you’ll learn more in an easy way.
November 1958 AGMC newsletter –
The identification program started last meeting was such a success that we will have another (at) this meeting. More will be said about the minerals this time. You may bring any reference books or other data that you wish that will help you in identifying these minerals. We want you to learn how to use your books for this purpose. There will be two classes, easy, and medium hard. Anyone winning in the easy one is immediately disqualified for that class again. We hope that soon all of our members can glance at the easy ones and know what they are so that they can be promoted to the next class up.
Submitted by Dave Moats