This is Throwback Thursday #330. 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!

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August 28, 2026 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the “All Illinois Rock Swap and Silent Auction”. It was held on August 28th and 29th, 1976 at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. The event was held in Parking Lot K. Long-time ESCONI member Rich Rock was Chairman. And really, who has a better name for than him to be involved in an event like this? Here is a photo of him and his grandson Pete at last year’s ESCONI Rock Swap.

Stop and say hello to him at this year’s event on August 15th, 2026.

Here’s the announcement of the “All Illinois” event from the July/August 1976 edition of the newsletter.

There event was well attended and considered a big success. Here is the small blurb that appeared in “President’s Message” of the September 1976 edition.

And, then the report in the October 1976 edition of the newsletter. 127 people is quite the showing!

We hope to see everyone at the latest edition of the Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Swap on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at the College of DuPage.