This is Throwback Thursday #279. In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general. If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc …), please send them to esconi.info@gmail.com. Thanks! email:esconi.info@gmail.com.

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Back in the 1950s and 1960s, the fall “Brag-Night” turned into the fall auction.  The auction was used by folks to sell off extra material collected during summer vacations.  Here is a “Brag-Night” drawing from September 1967.  The “Brag-Night” for 2025 (renamed to “Show and Tell” is at 7:30 PM on September 20th, 2025 at the College of DuPage.

Olive Knight wrote this nice poem about the summer collecting season in September 1951.

“VACATION CONVERSATION”

“Where shall be go on vacation this year?
There’s a beautiful hotel at Banff I hear.”

“The rocks are better at Joblin, M-0,
So there is where I want to go.”

“Los Angeles has such beautiful Roses,
And that is where my sister reposes.”

“The Nevada country is more to my taste –
With fossils and rocks all over the place.”

“Palm Springs is noted for Hollywood Queens,
You meet everyone from behind the scenes!”

“My blue jeans and a pack appeal more to me –
Where there are minerals that’s where I’ll be!”

“Now where will they go on vacation? Just guess!
Our basement will soon be a MUCH BIGGER MESS!”

— Olive Knight —

Solution to above trouble –
Auction! Auction! Auction! Auction!
Auction! Auction! Auction! Auction!