club history

The South Bay Lapidary and Mineral Society was formed in 1948, when a small group met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Curtis in Hermosa Beach, California Since then, meetings have been held at members' homes, at Clark Stadium in Hermosa Beach, at the Joslyn Center in Manhattan Beach, and currently are held at the Torrance Civic Center Library.

In 1956, our Society was formally accepted as a member of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies. Our lapidary show has been an annual event since 1950. Our educational cases of minerals fossils are used as teaching aids in the school systems of the South Bay, Inglewood, and Los Angeles County.

The Society was formed to collect and study minerals; to study and practice lapidary arts and to teach others; to disseminate a more general knowledge of mineralogy, lapidary work, and related sciences; to provide the opportunity to exhibit and trade specimens; and to exchange ideas among mineral (rock)collectors and hobbyists.

Our annual Rock and Gem Show, Nature's Treasures, is one of the few gem and mineral shows that have no dealers. However, we have finished stones, rough rocks, slabs, polished stones, spheres, and many items including jewelry (in the country store) for sale. There are workshops for children as well as adults, exhibit cases (both members and guests), demonstrations, and Wheel of Fortune especially for the children. If guest get hungry, our show always has a good food and great deserts.