Notes from the Archives · Highlands Nature Center · October 2025
Highlands Mineral Society1955 – 1962
Seven years of meetings, field trips and trade sessions, and a collection of rocks and minerals at the Station that is older than the Society itself.
Begin readingBeginnings
On April 8, 1931, The Highlands Maconian reported that the Southern Appalachian Mineral Society had been organized, “leading to the extensive development of mineral deposits in Western North Carolina for commercial and museum purposes.” The Society was established at the Asheville home of Burnham S. Colburn, Vice-President of the Highlands Museum and Biological Laboratory. John Davenport and L. H. Page of Franklin Mineral Products, along with D. D. Rice of the Southern Mica Company, became members, along with other men interested in geology.
The first officers, 1931
- President
- Burnham S. Colburn
- Vice-president
- H. M. Urban, of Spruce Pine
- Secretary-treasurer
- J. Frazier Glenn, Jr., of Asheville
- Directors
- W. Vance Brown, of Asheville · John Davenport, of Franklin · B. C. Burgess, of Spruce Pine
35Western North Carolina men “interested in mineralogy and geology”
On June 12, 1956, the Highlands Mineral Society was formally created by Constitution and By-Laws, with 30 members noted. The Society’s purpose was “to promote popular interest and education in various earth sciences, in particular mineralogy, distribute information on lapidary techniques, and encourage good fellowship.”
“The purpose and objects of the Highlands Mineral Society shall be:”
- ATo promote popular interest and education in the various earth sciences, in particular mineralogy
- BTo gain information on lapidary techniques
- CTo promote good fellowship
Transcribed from the typed Constitution. Article III adds that the Society “shall be non-profit,” working “through meetings, field trips, and projects.”
Society Minutes
The Society’s records from 1955 until its disbandment in 1962 are preserved in the E. E. Reinke Library archives at the Highlands Biological Station.
Minute Book #1 (1955–1957) notes that the first meeting was held on July 6, 1955, chaired by Dr. Thelma Howell at the Highlands Museum. Howell asked Judge George Janvier to preside, and officers were elected: President Frank Binz, Jr. and Secretary/Treasurer Mrs. Tom (Elizabeth) Harbison. Dues were set at $1, later raised to $2. On July 17, the first field trip was led by Dr. Howell and Lewis Dendy. Children were not permitted on trips, and participation was at one’s own risk.
- Chaired by
- Dr. Thelma Howell
- Presiding
- Judge George Janvier
- President
- Frank Binz, Jr.
- Secretary / Treasurer
- Mrs. Tom (Elizabeth) Harbison
- Dues
$1$2- First field trip
- July 17 · Dr. Howell & Lewis Dendy
No children on tripsAt one’s own risk
On June 4, 1956, the newly elected President, Frank Binz, died. At the next meeting, his service to the Mineral Society was honored with a prayer. Lewis Dendy became the new President. In 1957, a display case was purchased for the Highlands Museum in Binz’s memory, where minerals were exhibited.
Meetings generally consisted of minutes, committee reports, and a program with door prizes and refreshments. Programs included topics such as: Classification of Rocks, Fluorescence, Physical Properties of Minerals, Emeralds, Crystallography, Radioactive Minerals, Cat’s-Eye Sillimanite, and Varieties of Quartz.
Fluorescence
One of the Society’s program topics. Under ordinary light, many minerals look plain. Under an ultraviolet lamp, some of them glow.
An illustration of the idea, not specimens from the collection.
Lamp off. Ordinary room light.
- Classification of Rocks
- Fluorescence
- Physical Properties of Minerals
- Emeralds
- Crystallography
- Radioactive Minerals
- Cat’s-Eye Sillimanite
- Varieties of Quartz
Meetings, 1956
- June 18Annual Meeting8:00 P.M., Museum Building. Film: The Earth Is Born.
- July 12Monthly Meeting2:00 P.M. Lapidary demonstration and an exhibit of cut stones by the Lapidary Division of the Southern Appalachian Mineral Society (SAMS). 8:00 P.M. Speaker: W. M. Graham, Chairman, Lapidary Division, SAMS. Both courtesy of Highlands Biological Station.
- July 19Evening Lecture Series, HBSDr. Vernon Hurst, Georgia Dept. Mines, “Prospecting Experiences in Alaska.”
- August 13Monthly MeetingMrs. Tom Harbison, “Varieties of Quartz.” Film: Face of the Land. Trade session.
- September 10Monthly MeetingBlanch Davenport, “Jade.” Trade session.
- October 8Monthly Meeting“To be planned by members still in Highlands.”
Field Trips
From 1955 to 1961, members received field trip notices listing locations and possible mineral finds. Sites included Blue Valley, Holbrook Mine, Horse Cove, Laurel Creek, Queen Mountain, Sheep Cliff Feldspar Mine, and Whiteside. Each trip was documented with an information sheet and signature list of attendees and their addresses.
- Blue Valley
- Holbrook Mine
- Horse Cove
- Laurel Creek
- Queen Mountain
- Sheep Cliff Feldspar Mine
- Whiteside
Field trips, 1956
Select a row to see it on the card.
| Day | Date | Leader | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun. | July 8 | Lewis Dendy | Salt Rock Gap |
| Wed. | July 18 | Tom Crumpler | Laurel Cr. |
| Sun. | July 29 | Mrs. Ramsey | Wagoner Mine |
| Wed. | Aug. 8 | Mrs. Kinnard | Flat Mt. Area |
| Sun. | Aug. 19 | Davenport? | Burningtown |
| Wed. | Aug. 29 | Doc. Howell | Horse Cove |
| Sun. | Sept. 9 | ? |
Our reading of the card. Every date falls on the Sunday or Wednesday the card gives for 1956.
Suggestions for planning a field trip
“Pick out those localities which look the most promising for an interesting field trip. The availability of specimens indicates the number of localities to be visited on a trip. Usually two localities are sufficient.”
“Read up on all minerals at all locations in area assigned.”
- Good sources “Old Timers,” U. S. Geological Survey, TVA (Knoxville), U. S. Bureau of Mines, State Geological Survey
- Magazines “Rocks and Minerals,” “Gems and Minerals,” “Lapidary Journal,” “Mineralogy”
- Books Pearl, How to Know the Minerals · Pough, A Field Guide to Rocks & Minerals · English, Getting Acquainted with Minerals
- Maps TVA maps, from Highlands Biological Station or Conkle’s Gift Shop, Cashiers
“Make one or more trips to area assigned you. Note the routes to each, accessibility —by auto or on foot— adequate parking. CONSULT with property owners and/or lessors of the mineral rights to obtain permission to enter property…”
“Obtain specimens, for display to members on the day of the field trip, so that members will know what they are looking for at each locality.”
“Forward to the Secretary, at least 10 days in advance of the proposed trip, detailed information necessary for the notices to members.”
- Date
- Time
- Assembly Point
- Route (map or sketch)
- Locality
- Minerals to be found
- Equipment needed
“Keep a written record of all Members, Guests, Visitors present on the field trip.”
These are the signature lists that survive in the records.
Membership
Membership ranged from 20 to 62 during the Society’s seven-year history. Records from 1959–1960 show members’ names alongside four-digit telephone numbers. Other lists also recorded members’ winter addresses.
- 30Total paid membership for 1956
- 5Average attendance at Board Meetings
- 14Average attendance of Field Trips
“Attendance at programs at Museum fair, except for the Southern Appalachian Exhibit and Lapidary demonstration, which was excellent.”
Signed Elizabeth Harbison, Chairman of the Committee.
Disbanded
The Highlands Mineral Society was officially disbanded at a called meeting on August 17, 1962, “due to lack of interest and attendance by members.” The remaining $174.63 in the treasury was donated to the Highlands Museum to purchase additional chairs for the auditorium.
$174.63
left in the treasury, given for chairs for the auditorium
The Mineral Collection at the Highlands Biological Station (HBS)
Despite the Society’s disbandment, rocks and minerals had been part of the Highlands Museum since July 1928, when they first appeared in the accession book. Notable donations came from Marguerite Ravenel (1949), Louis Denby, Burnham S. Colburn, and the Jellens. Major collections were later contributed by the Smiths, Harold Mallory, and Thelma Howell.
- 1928First rocks and minerals in the accession book
- 1930The J. Jay & Mary Chapin Smith Collection
- 1949Marguerite Ravenel
- 1969 – 76Harold B. Mallory
- 1981Thelma Howell’s gem collection
J. (John) Jay (1853–1941) and Mary Chapin (1855–1940) Smith Collection
This collection, donated in 1930, included quartz, beryl, and corundum from Macon County, as well as agates, jasper, chalcedony, flints, gold ore, and calcium from other localities. The Smiths were early pioneers in Highlands. J. Jay Smith was an entrepreneur, road and bridge builder, and woodsman who owned the first steam sawmill producing lumber for many Highlands houses. Mary Chapin attended the founding meeting of the Station in August 1927, became a trustee, and remained actively involved with the Museum and Laboratory for many years.
Harold B. Mallory (1901–1977)
Mallory donated his collection between 1969 and 1976. It was last appraised by the Highlands Gem Shop in 1991. The gems were not local but had been collected worldwide. Mallory lived in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and summered in Highlands. The Highlands Gem Shop, owned by Archie M. and Hazel S. Jellen—members of the Highlands Mineral Society from 1958 to 1962—was established in 1952 and is closing this year after 73 years in business.
73years of the Highlands Gem Shop, 1952 – 2025
Thelma Howell (1901–1979)
Howell’s gem collection was given to the Station in 1981 by her great-nephew, Dr. Charles W. Styron, from her estate. The collection was appraised by the Jellens in 1983, and a raffle drawing was held on September 3, 1983. The winner was Howell’s dear friend and long-time Station assistant, Martina Haggard. A total of $1,638 was raised for the Thelma Howell Memorial Scholarship at HBS.
$1,638raised for the Thelma Howell Memorial Scholarship
Mineral Societies in Western North Carolina
Mineral societies have long been of interest in Western North Carolina due to the region’s many mineral mines. Today, Franklin, NC is known as the “Gem Capital of the World,” hosting one of the largest annual rock and mineral shows, the “Macon County Gemboree,” which features dealers from around the globe.
Cataloging of the HBS Rock and Mineral Collection
This past summer, students from Western Carolina University’s Geology Department, led by Dr. Cheryl Waters-Tormey and Dr. Shane Schoepfer, cataloged the Highlands Biological Station’s mineral collection. University Program Associate Sarah Vickery reflects on their work and shares insights from their time on campus in a featured essay.
From the accession book to the catalog
- 1928JulyRocks and minerals first appear in the Highlands Museum’s accession book.
- 1930J. Jay and Mary Chapin Smith give their collection.
- 1931April 8The Highlands Maconian reports the founding of the Southern Appalachian Mineral Society.
- 1949Marguerite Ravenel’s donation.
- 1952Archie and Hazel Jellen establish the Highlands Gem Shop.
- 1955July 6 · July 17The first meeting of the Highlands Mineral Society, and its first field trip.
- 1956June 4 · June 12President Frank Binz dies. The Constitution and By-Laws are adopted.
- 1957A display case is bought for the Museum in Binz’s memory.
- 1962August 17The Society disbands, giving $174.63 for auditorium chairs.
- 1969Harold B. Mallory begins giving his collection, through 1976.
- 1981Thelma Howell’s gem collection comes to the Station from her estate.
- 1983September 3A raffle of the collection raises $1,638 for the Thelma Howell Memorial Scholarship.
- 2025WCU geology students catalog the HBS mineral collection.
The Society’s records are preserved in the E. E. Reinke Library archives.
Bryding Adams, Volunteer Archivist, October 2025