New Mexico Geological Society

The New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) is a learned society founded in 1947 to promote interest in geology and associated sciences, foster scientific research and publications, encourage cooperation among its members, and stimulate interest in New Mexico geology. The original idea of founding the Society was conceived in early 1947 by Vincent C. Kelley, then a Professor of Geology at the University of New Mexico, together with Caswell Silver and Gordon H. Wood, Jr., both UNM geology alumni. On April 12, 1947, 89 geologists met at UNM and organized the Geological Society of New Mexico; the present Constitution followed. The Society pursues its objectives chiefly through an annual fall field conference held in different locations in New Mexico or adjoining states, and annual spring meetings generally held in Socorro, New Mexico, where oral presentations on different aspects of New Mexico geology are given. It also supports geologic studies in New Mexico through sales of publications and charitable contributions, presenting several grants-in-aid and scholarships annually to graduate and undergraduate students at New Mexico colleges and universities. To promote the study of earth sciences at a younger age, savings bonds are given for winning earth and space-science projects at the New Mexico State Science Fair. NMGS is a publisher as well as a convening body. Its guidebooks document the geology of the regions covered by its field conferences, and most guidebook papers are available for free download. The Society also issues Special Publications; Special Publication No. 2, a history of the Society covering 1947–1968 by Stuart A. Northrop, appeared in 1969, and Special Publication No. 8 (1979), on the archaeology and history of Santa Fe Country, was the Society's first product primarily dealing with topics other than geology. Publication sales are processed by bookstore staff at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. The Society is based in Socorro, New Mexico, and maintains its web presence at nmgs.nmt.edu. It remains an active membership organization serving geologists, students, and the interested public in New Mexico and neighboring states.

The New Mexico Geological Society traces its origins to early 1947, when Vincent C. Kelley, then a Professor of Geology at the University of New Mexico, together with UNM geology alumni Caswell Silver and Gordon H. Wood, Jr., conceived the idea of founding a geological society for New Mexico. On April 12, 1947, 89 geologists met at the University of New Mexico and organized the Geological Society of New Mexico. The present Constitution followed that organizing meeting. From its earliest years the Society combined scientific meetings with publication. Its annual fall field conferences, held in different locations in New Mexico or adjoining states, became the occasion for guidebooks documenting the geology of the areas visited, while annual spring meetings, generally held in Socorro, New Mexico, provided a forum for oral presentations on different aspects of New Mexico geology. The Society's publication program expanded beyond guidebooks. In 1969 it issued Special Publication No. 2, a history of the New Mexico Geological Society covering 1947–1968, written by Stuart A. Northrop. The compilation had been commissioned by the Executive Committee in 1962 and announced as in preparation in the list of Society publications in the 15th guidebook (1964). A decade later, Special Publication No. 8 (1979), "Archaeology and History of Santa Fe Country," edited by Raymond V. Ingersoll and Jonathan F. Callender, was described as the Society's first product primarily dealing with topics other than geology; it was a companion to Guidebook 30 (Santa Fe Country) and collected four articles prepared in conjunction with the Society's fall field conference. Alongside its meetings and publications, the Society developed a program of grants, scholarships, and donations. Through sales of publications and charitable contributions, it supports geologic studies in New Mexico, presenting several grants-in-aid and scholarships annually to graduate and undergraduate students at New Mexico colleges and universities. To promote the study of earth sciences at a younger age, savings bonds are given for winning earth and space-science projects at the New Mexico State Science Fair. In the 2020s the Society continued to operate from Socorro, New Mexico, maintaining its website at nmgs.nmt.edu. During the COVID-19 crisis, bookstore staff at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, who process publication sales for NMGS, were mostly working remotely; the Society continued to accept online orders but shipped them once a week, and most guidebook papers were made available for free download. The Society remains an active learned society promoting interest in geology and associated sciences, fostering scientific research and publications, encouraging cooperation among its members, and stimulating interest in New Mexico geology.

• 1979

  Special Publication No. 8, "Archaeology and History of Santa Fe Country," was published as the Society's first product primarily dealing with topics other than geology.

• 1969

  Special Publication No. 2, a history of the New Mexico Geological Society 1947–1968 by Stuart A. Northrop, was published.

• 1964

  The history was announced as in preparation in the list of Society publications in the 15th guidebook.

• 1962

  The Executive Committee commissioned a history of the Society.

• 1947

  Idea of founding the Society conceived in early 1947 by Vincent C. Kelley, Caswell Silver, and Gordon H. Wood, Jr.

• 1947

  On April 12, 1947, 89 geologists met at the University of New Mexico and organized the Geological Society of New Mexico.

A regional learned society and scientific publisher dedicated to New Mexico geology, serving members through field conferences, meetings, publications, and student support.

• Guidebooks

  Field conference guidebooks documenting the geology of areas visited; most guidebook papers are available for free download.

• Special Publication No. 2

  History of the New Mexico Geological Society 1947–1968 by Stuart A. Northrop, 1969, 78 pages.

• Special Publication No. 8

  Archaeology and History of Santa Fe Country, edited by Raymond V. Ingersoll and Jonathan F. Callender, 1979, 19 pages.

1. 1New Mexico Geological Society - Homepagenmgs.nmt.edu
2. 2New Mexico Geological Society - Homepagenmgs.nmt.edu
3. 3NMGS Special Publication - 2nmgs.nmt.edu
4. 4NMGS Special Publication - 8nmgs.nmt.edu
5. 5New Mexico Geological Societywikidata.org