About Us

The Beginnings…

The STOCKTON LAPIDARY AND MINERAL CLUB was organized by M. D. Taylor and George Powers in 1939. Club Meetings were held in the commercial building of the Stockton High School on California Street and Harding Way in Stockton, California.

As far back as 1937 there was some activity at a Weekend Mineral Show, which was free and open t

As far back as 1937 there was some activity at a Weekend Mineral Show, which was free and open to the public. It was held at the Coca-Cola Lounge on Wilson Way.

In 1940 a small Mineral Show was held in the Haggin Memorial Museum. It was then that M.D. Taylor demonstrated faceting on a machine he designed. At this time there were thirty two clubs in existence in the Federation.

The Stockton Club at this time was going strong. But with the Pearl Harbor bombing it brought all activities to a halt. From 1942-1945 World War II with its gas ration, defense war, and other restrictions brought all rock hounding to a halt. It is believed that the STOCKTON LAPIDARY AND MINERAL CLUB was inactive during this period. There was no written material as to when the club came back into existence.

January 2, 1958 brought on the first printing of the “Rock Chips” Club Bulletin. The bulletin was issued out each month.

November 7, 1959 the club held a special meeting at the Dillworth home to discuss the property located at 3136 East Anita Street. It was voted to secure an option to purchase, subject to determination the property was suitable for clubhouse purposes

On November 19, 1959 it was announced to the Club that a down payment of $1,500.00 of $2,000.00 with a Deed of Trust in the amount of $2,000.00 with Clyde Dillworth as Trustee, had been placed in escrow to purchase the property located at 3136 East Anita Street. The property was purchased from Mr and Mrs. Jacobson for a total of $3,500.00. It was in shambles. The main building was in need of repairs due to a gas

explosion. All the members worked hard on rebuilding clubhouse for a couple of months to make it usable as a clubhouse. June 13, 1964 the final payment was paid on the clubhouse property. The occasion was celebrated with a Mortgage Burning Ceremony. Sara Mallory was Master of Ceremonies with the original officers participating.

The Gem and Mineral Show was moved to 33 West Alpine Avenue in Stockton, California. We had thirty four vendors, forty four show cases from our own club members and its surrounding lapidary clubs. We also have various demonstrators who are from our own club and other lapidary clubs. The show included a snack bar with us selling hamburger, and hot dog meals which included macaroni salad and chips. We also had cookies, cakes, and pies as well as coffee, tea, bottled water and soda.

The Clubhouse has been in operation for many years. At one time we had over a hundred active and non active members. Our youngest member at the time was 10 years old and our oldest was in her 90’s. There are a few members who are Life Members.

Earth Science Presentations…

Carl Cooper and Richard Calderon made free presentations about rocks, minerals and their uses to the local schools and local groups in and around San Joaquin, County. Carl has been doing this for the past thirty years. Richard, who met Carl at a church function, joined Carl as a way of doing something with five acres of rock sitting on his property. Throughout the years their presentation reached about one thousand children from the 4th through 12th grades, as well as many adults. Both Carl and Richard had a passion for educating our young and old about the wonder of rocks and minerals. They also volunteered in the “Rock Hound and Mineral Identification” event at the annual San Joaquin County Science Olympiad Competition.

Since the passing of Carl Cooper, Richard and his wife Mary Calderon now have taken on the Earth Science Presentations and the “Rock

Hound and Mineral Identification” event with some of our members helping as needed.

The Club now offers classes in cabbing, beading, jewelry silversmith, jewelry wire wrapping, knife knapping, and dichroic glass fusing.

Thanks to a few members who have loaned out their faceting machines we now have faceting classes.

We hope in the future more people and children come to enjoy the lapidary arts just as our fellow rock hounders have in the past and in the present.

Anne Nishioka

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The Background of Our Show

Nearly 170 years ago California and Nevada were inundated with treasure seekers—prospectors for the gold and silver that proved to be abundant in this part of the world. Over the years since, California and the far-west parts of the United States have become legendary for their abundance of fascinating and valuable minerals and crystals, all brought to light by the backbreaking efforts of generations of these prospectors and miners.

At the Grape Festival Grounds in Lodi, on September 28 and 29, you’re going to have a chance to see how humankind has turned these rich resources into precious things that enrich our lives with their beauty. Bring your family to the Earth’s Treasures Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show, where even the youngest among us can learn to make their own bracelets, and those who wish to, can learn how to cut their own gemstones and then, perhaps, even make a spectacular wedding ring with their own hands, or perhaps a memorable birthday gift for someone special.

The show is sponsored by the Stockton Lapidary and Mineral Club, a non-profit educational activity that has been nurturing craftsmanship and artistry in our community for well over 70 years. Those members of the club who are interested in being outdoors frequently venture far “off the beaten path” into the mountains, valleys, and deserts that the earliest prospectors came to love. They go in search of minerals and gemstones that they and other members of the club can work with in our club workshop to create beautiful rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Also, in the workshop, copper and silver can be crafted into settings for cut, shaped and polished minerals and gemstones that then need only to find a person or place where they can be displayed and appreciated.

Come to the show and be amazed at what you can learn to do with things as simple as copper wire and glass. The show features dealers in handmade jewelry, beads, and the makings for all sorts of decorative things, as well as demonstrations and exhibits of the things that can be made—all from the treasures of the Earth. The show will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday of the fourth weekend in September. Ample free parking will be available. Admission is $6.00. Bring a print of this webpage to earn a $2 discount. Children 12 and under get in free.

The show will be at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, 413 E. Lockeford Street, two blocks west of the eastbound State Route 12 off-ramp from the 99 freeway, September 28 and 29.

The Stockton Lapidary and Mineral Club welcomes anyone interested in the lapidary and jewelry arts to visit the club workshop at 3136 East Anita Street in Stockton, just a few blocks from the Fremont Street offramp from the 99 freeway. The workshop is open most Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm and two Saturdays a month from 10:00 am. Check our website for details. Guests are welcome. Membership is $25 per year.

We’ll look forward to welcoming you at the show and at our workshop!