The Mineralogical Society of Southern California

Jim Mills’ presentation is an entertaining, pictorial history of the beginnings of rock and mineral collecting and the explosive growth it enjoyed in the mid-20^th century.  From National Parks, roadside attractions, rock shops, and magazines for the amateur, all the way to field collecting, lapidary, and specimen collections, this review will provide the old-timers a pang of nostalgia and the younger enthusiasts a better appreciation for the origins of our hobby.

Biography:

Jim Mills grew up in Southern California just around the corner from the North Hollywood Gem and Mineral shop and began collecting rocks and minerals in 1952 at the age of 9 years.  So much time was spent hanging out at the shop that the proprietor started giving him odd jobs to do.  Of course, the payment was in rocks and minerals!  He graduated from UCLA Earth and Planetary Sciences Department in 1965 and joined the US Air Force as an Intelligence Officer very soon after graduation. 

In a second career Jim worked for the National Park Service.  It was a good match – the first national parks were related to interesting geology, fumaroles and hot springs at Yellowstone and the glacial features at Yosemite.  In fact, a very early National Monument was Petrified Forest, set aside by Teddy Roosevelt in 1908 – eight years prior to legislation that established the National Park Service to administer the nation’s treasures.

Jim is an avid collector of petrified wood but seldom comes home from the Tucson Show without a few mineral specimens as well.  Along with his spouse, Beth Myers, he operates a small Internet business selling petrified woods and plant fossils to collectors and museums around the world. He has authored several papers related to geology and fossil wood localities.  A complete list can be seen at https://www.millsgeological.com/about-us.html