This is Throwback Thursday #316. 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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25 Years Ago – May 2001

• The General Meeting featured “The Evolution of South American Mammals” by Darin Croft of the University of Chicago and the Field Museum.
• John Catalani was presenting a program about Nautiloids to the Paleontology Study Group.
• The Mineralogy Study Group was learning about reactive minerals and how to keep them away from heat, air, and water.
• The Field Museum sent SUE’s skull to the 23rd MAPS Expo at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. Irene Broede and Karen Nordquist were there to help.
• Planning for the 2021 CGMA Show was nearly complete. Dorothy and Don Auler were ESCONI’s delegates.

50 Years Ago – May 1976

• The topic for the General Meeting was “What Do These Stones Mean” by Mrs. Linn Buss. She was discussing unique geological and archaeological features of Israel.
• The Archaeology Study Group had a field trip to the Chicago Historical Society. There was an exhibit called “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” that they were very interested in seeing.
• Dr. Larry Casey did a program called “Working with Opal” for the Lapidary Study Group.
• Paul Josefek joined ESCONI. He and his wife Sylvia were very active during the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Paul was treasurer from 1985 until 1990. Sylvia created some beautiful lapidary displays including “Cafe ESCONI”.
• There was a field trip to Alexander, Missouri for geodes. Alexander is not far from Keokuk, Iowa.

70 Years Ago – May 1956

• Jack Best and Alvin Erickson did a program about “Cutting and Polishing Stones” for the the Regular Meeting.
• The Junior groups were learning about minerals… “Petroleum, Lubricating Oil, and Gasoline”, “Lapidary”, and “Asbestos” were the topics of discussion.
• The Paleontology Group was invited to search Blue Clay Creek in Richmond, Indiana to collect brachiopods, horn coral, bryozoans, trilobites, and shell rocks. It was a two day trip that included a tour of Earlham College with Jim Cope an instructor in the Ornithology Department. The visit included the movie “The Fossil Story” by the Shell Oil Co.