Introduction to the Mary Bergman Hamilton Collection of Minerals

In 2017, the children of Mary Bergman Hamilton donated her lifetime collection of minerals to the Show-Me Rockhounds. In order to share this gift with other rockhounds and interested earth science students, our club has put together this publication.

Mary had divided her collection into minerals she had purchased, those she had traded for, and those that she had found on rockhounding field trips. We have followed this same format in how we have organized this book. At the beginning of each section we have some tips for how you, as a rockhound, can add to your collection using these methods.

A number of the minerals in the collection fluoresce under short- or long-wave ultraviolet light. We have added a section to the book to highlight these minerals and explain a little about fluorescence.

We have a page showing the collection as it was displayed at the 60th Annual Kansas City Gem and Mineral Show in 2022.

Finally, there is a page of the book to emphasize the importance of good recordkeeping and labeling of a mineral collection. We show Mary’s method of index cards and mineral labeling.

We hope that this book will inspire both novice and experienced rockhounds by showing what a dedicated amateur can accomplish.

We have books available for $15.00 per copy. If you are interested in purchasing a copy(s) you may email Dan Snow President of the Show-Me Rockhounds of Kansas City at showmerockhounds.com