Angelo State University to the Rescue!

In 1973, what was then Sonora Junior High became the keepers of the Orville G. Babcock geology collection. Dr. Babcock, whose degree was in entomology (insect study), collected rocks, minerals, and fossils wherever he went. He carefully recorded everything he collected by date, description, type, who collected it and where. He built three cabinets of twelve drawers each to hold his collection. Anyone who spent any time in Mrs. (Carol) Love’s classroom since 1973 knows what the collection looks like.

When Mrs. Love retired, the collection gained a new home at the Eaton House. It’s a terrific addition but there was one slight hitch—many of the samples were no longer in their proper places, the ledger was old, fragile and easily damaged, and the cabinets were in need of a good cleaning.

Enter Rebecca and Dominick, two Angelo State geology students who spent two days of their winter break helping us to organize Dr. Babcock’s collection. Rebecca set up a spreadsheet and has transcribed the ledger so we can now look things up on the computer. The ledger pages have been scanned so someone can look through them without handling (and possibly damaging) the original. Dominick removed each drawer, took out all the samples, cleaned the drawers and replaced their contents. Based on additional papers, they have determined the original order of the cabinets.

Dominic studies a specimen before he returns it to its rightful place. The top part of Dr. Babcock's 12-drawer cabinets can be seen behind Dominic.

We are extremely fortunate to have this collection. Eaton Hill plans to make it accessible to anyone, from geologist to grade school student.