New York Mineralogical Club
On September 21st, 1886 in the home of Professor Daniel S. Martin at 236 West 4th Street, the New York Mineralogical Club was formed through the efforts of George F. Kunz, B. B. Chamberlin and Professor Martin. Monthly meetings followed at the homes of members, with hosts presiding. George F. Kunz was elected Secretary. At the sixth meeting in March, 1887 the name New York Mineralogical Club was officially adopted. A constitution and by-laws were approved at the eighth meeting. No president being required by this Constitution, none was elected until April, 1895 when George F. Kunz became the club’s first President, an office he held for many years. At the end of the club’s first year it had a membership of forty-six, including many notable mineralogists.
The club’s fine collection of more than 700 mineral specimens from New York City is housed at the American Museum of Natural History. The collection includes specimens of beryl, chrysoberyl, garnet, tourmaline, stilbite and xenotime together with many other species. Most noteworthy is the large 6 inch almandine garnet called the Kunz garnet discovered in 1885.
During the 110 years the club has been in existence several honorary members have been appointed in recognition of contributions in the field of minerals and mineralogy. They include: Joseph Arons*, Sir William Henry Bragg*, Russ Buckingham*, Lawrence H. Conklin, Madam Marie Curie*, Edward S. Dana*, Clifford Frondel*, Victor Goldschmidt*, Richard Hauck, Carl Krotki*, Alfred Lacroix*, Charles Palache*, Frederick Pough*, Waldemar T. Schaller*, Leonard J. Spencer*, Herbert P. Whitlock*.(* Deceased.)
Minerals named after former and current club members include: Austinite, Bementite, Brianite, Bostwickite, Cahnite, Canfieldite, Charlesite, Cliffordite, Eglestonite, Englishite, Frondelite, Hauckite, Hiddenite, Holdenite, Kempite, Keyite, Kunzite=lavender spodumene, Ludlockite, Montgomeryite, Mosesite, Overite, Petersite, Perloffite, Poughite, Roeblingite, Schallerite, Segelerite, Sinkankasite, Sklodowskite, Spencerite, Stenhuggarite, Strunzite, Whitlockite, Yedlinite.
