DVPS History

History of the DVPS -Milestones/EventsPast Presidents: William Gallagher, Courtney Rockefeller, Earle Spamer, Sidney Hostetter, Vince O’Donnell, Mike Keklak, Paul Lazar, Robert Kline, Larry Decina, Ron Tillis, Donald Miller, Ken Shuck

This website is maintained by Chris Storck.

All information or images disclosed herein are copyright © of the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society,

or are copyright © of their respective owners.

1978 June meeting with fossil enthusiasts at Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila. (ANSP)

1978 First meeting of fossil enthusiasts at ANSP in September

1979 First slate of officers elected

1979 First overnight fossil collecting trip to Madison, NY

1980 First Fossil Fair held at ANSP.

1981 DVPS incorporated as a non-profit entity.

1981 DVPS newsletter contains masthead of mosasaur skeleton.

1981 First trip (Thanksgiving wknd.) to phosphate mine in Aurora, NC. Twelve members went on trip.

1981 Mosasaur journal was planned; submissions were being accepted.

1982 Mosasaur Volume 1 published.

1983 DVPS makes first significant donation (Dr. Peter Dodson’s Protoceratops expedition).

1984 Mosasaur Volume 2 published.

1985 First Winter “Polar Bear” trip to Big Brook, New Jersey

1986 Mosasaur Volume 3 published.

1987 Two trips each year to phosphate mine in Aurora, NC

1988 10th Anniversary Year of society began. There have been 5 presidents and 8 fossil fairs to date.

1989 Field trips expanded into Florida and Nebraska. Frank Garcia was the field guide.

1989 Mosasaur Volume 4 is published.

1990 DVPS explores other sites in North Carolina, New York, and Pennsylvania.

1991 Inception of scholarship fund is discussed.

1992 Philadelphia Foundation manages scholarship fund.

1993 Paul Bond Scholarship established.

1994 Mosasaur Volume 5 papers were being accepted.

1995 Several overnight trips are planned on trip schedule.

1996 Mosasaur Volume 5 published.

1997 First Paul Bond (PB) Scholarship Award given to Joshua B. Smith (University of Pensylvania).

1997 DVPS website established.

1998 20th Anniversary year of society established. Ten presidents have been elected.

1998 PB Scholarship Award given to Allison R. Tumarkin (University of Pennsylvania).

1998 PB Scholarship Award given to Katherine L. Davis (University of Delaware).

1999 20th Anniv. dinner (Horsham, Pa.) (Courtney Rockefeller received lifetime achievement award.)

2000 Co-presidents elected DVPS (Larry Decina and Ron Tillis).

2000 PB Scholarship Award given to David Cassenti (Rutgers University)

2001 Fossil fair moved to Plymouth Meeting (Pa.). Philadelphia Mineralogical Society shared event.

2001 Field trips expanded into Canada (Quarries north of Toronto).

2001 PB Scholarship Award given to William E. Gottobrio (Bryn Mawr College).

2002 PB Scholarship Award given to Matthew C. Lamanna (University of Pennsylvania).

2003 25th Anniversary Dinner (Horsham, Pa.) held. (Kristen Donnan and Peter Larson speakers)

2003 Ron Tillis receives lifetime achievement award at anniversary dinner.

2003 PB Scholarship Award given to Merrilee F. Guenther (University of Pennsylvania).

2004 DVPS newsletter begins electronic mailing.

2004 Mosasaur Volume 6 and 7 published.

2004 PB Scholarship Award given to Doreena M. Patrick (University of Pennsylvania).

2005 Renewed interest for trips back to St. Clair and Beltsville Dam, Pa.

2005 Significant donation given to ANSP’s Red Hill Field Station (Renovo, Pa.)

2005 Passing of Courtney Rockefeller, charter member, past president, lifetime achievement award

2006 Fossil fair at Plymouth Meeting, Pa. draws over 1,000 paid visitors.

2006 PB Scholarship Award given to Domenic D’Amore (Rutgers University).

2006 Passing of Paul Lazar, past president.

2007 Joint trips with clubs from Delaware, Maryland, and Friends of Aurora Museum are started.

2008 Renewed interest for trips back to Florida and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal begin.

2008 PB Scholarship Award given to Emma Schachner (University of Pennsylvania).

2009 Ten trips are offered; different trip leaders are used for each trip.

2009 Significant donation given to The Hamburg Nat. Hist. Society’s Paleo Outdoor Educ. Center.

2009 Passing of Don Badman, plant fossil enthusiast

2009 Passing of Herb Ermler, trip leader (West Virginia sites)

2010 30th Anniversary Dinner held (Pennsauken, NJ.) (Dr. Peter Dodson speaker)

2010 Trips to Florida and Wyoming are held; First kayaking trip to Calvert Cliffs held.

2010 Significant donation given to ANSP’s Red Hill Field Station (Renovo, Pa.)

2010 PB Scholarship Award given to Eric Morschhauser (University of Pennsylvania).

2010 Passing of Ed Charlesworth (age 98), oldest DVPS member ever

2011 Passing of Patti Kane-Vanni, vice president

2011 Over 75% of DVPS membership receives newsletter electronically.

2011 Passing of Connie Smith, Matoaka Beach Cabins, frequent location for members

2012 Passing of Ron Tillis, charter member, past president, trip leader, lifetime achievement award

2012 Participation in National Fossil Day (Trip to Beltzville Dam, Pa.)

2012 Passing of John Wolf, trip leader, volunteer at Sewell, NJ Site

2013 DVPS begins annual participation at events (e.g., Paleopalooza at Academy of Nat. Science).

2013 Passing of Dr. Joan Trotta, charter member

2013 Established joint activities with Delaware Museum of Natural History.

2014 President Bill Shankle attends SVP conference in Florida – meeting with fossil clubs.

2014 Paul Bond Scholarship award to Zachary Boles (Drexel University)

2014 Produced DVPS coloring books with members’ art – production by Edward Brown.

2014 Mosasaur Volume 8 published.

2015 Trips held at Beltzville Dam Spillway, Carbon County, PA and Seven Stars, PA.

2015 Trips to new plant sites begin (Ashland, Schuylkill County, PA.).

2015 Passing of Don Miller, past president

2015 Donation given to Rowan University’s Fossil Park, Inversand, NJ.

2016 PB Scholarship Award to Kristyn Voegle, (University of Pennsylvania)

2016 New trip site to Fowler’s Hollow, Perry County, PA

2016 Passing of Jim Forster, Trip Leader, Trilobite enthusiast

2017 PB Scholarship Award to 3 recipients

(Erika Goldsmith, Temple Univ.; Steven Jasinski, .Univ. of Penn.; and Aja Carter, Univ. of Penn.

2017 Passing of Ed Lauginiger, Trip Leader, charter member, High School teacher

2017 DVPS presentation/ field trip at Northeastern Geological Society conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

2017 Passing of Greg Auriemma, Trip Leader, Ocean County Sierra Club chairman

2017 Trips begin again to Ramanessin, Holmdel, NJ.

2017 Mosasaur Volume 9 completed.

2018 Produced second DVPS coloring book – sketches by Kenny Nace.

2018 Cathy Young becomes president as of Fall 2018.

2018 40th Anniversary Event is held at Broad Axe Tavern, Ambler, PA. (Dr. Dana Ehret, Speaker)

2018 Larry Decina receives Courtney Rockefeller Award at 40th Anniversary Event.

2018 Bill Shankle completes 6 year president term with DVPS.

2018 Mosasaur Volume 10 completed and available to membership.

2019 John and Joan Wolf Teaching Collection donated to Rowan University.

2019 Trips begin again to central New York (Courtney Rockefeller Trip).

2019 Trip locations expand to Potomac River site in northern Virginia.

2019 Holiday party sets all-time auction record.

2020 Ed Grobelny’s 20th year as newsletter editor.

2020 Mosasaur Volume 11 completed and available to membership.

2020 Grants awarded to Erynn Johnson and Ashley Adams.

2020 Meetings from March to December cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 Virtual meetings were held.

2021 Virtual meetings continued in first half of year.

2021 Trips began again. Sites visited included: Belzville State Park, Ramanessin Creek, and Calvert Cliffs in first half of year.