International Mineralogical Association

Developement of IMA - Foundation of IMA

Friday 17 June 2011

1956 - 1957 - 1958

IMA Creation

Photograph of participants to the first IMA meeting, in Madrid, in April 1958

Summer 1956: the British Mineralogical Society has sent letters to various countries to create an international organization: see the memorandum

November 1st, 1956 : Decision during the meeting of the Mineralogical Society of America to create a committee to investigate the possibility of forming an International Union of Mineralogy.

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Letter of M. L. Burger

December 18, 1956 : Letter of M.L. Burger to 8 mineralogists to form a Committee to consider the possibility of forming an International Union of Mineralogy

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Answer of C. Guillemin

January 1957: Answer of C. Guillemin to M.L. Burger

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Memorandum N. F. M. Henry

February 8, 1957: Memorandum by N.F.M. Henry send to M.L. Burger and to 3 corresponding members on the Committee on the type of international organization, with a copy to C. Guillemin

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Guillemin’s opinion

February 25, 1957: Guillemin opinion on the Henry’s Memorandum sent to M.L. Burger

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Guillemin’s answer

February 26, 1957: Guillemin’s answer to N.M.F. Henry

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M.J. Buerger’s letter

March 8, 1957: M.J. Buerger’s letter to the "Committee to Investigate the Possibility of Establishing an International Union of Mineralogy". L.J. Buerger proposed to create "The International Mineralogical Association" (IMA) unstead of a Union, and to organize an informal meeting to discuss general matters concerned with the IMA, during the Congress of the International Union of Crystallography in Montreal July 10. The Buerger document also contains :

  • the Committee member opinion on the creation of an International organization devoted to Mineralogy (Claringbull, Gruner, Donnay, Henry, Guillemin, Pabst, Winkler),
  • and an invitation to send National delegates to Montreal to consider the formation of an International Mineralogical Association
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N.F.M. Henry answer

March 16, 1957: N.F.M. Henry answer to Guillemin letter (February 26th, 1957)

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C. Guillemin letter to L.J Buerger

April 4, 1957: C. Guillemin letter to L.J Buerger on the creation of the IMA, and on its absence at the Montreal meeting

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Request by L.J Buerger

April 10, 1957: Request by L.J Buerger to name a French delegate to attend the Montreal Congress

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Guillemin’s letter 15 April

April 15, 1957: Guillemin letter following a meeting of the French Society of Mineralogy, on favor of the creation of the IMA, and designing Wyart to go to Montreal

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Project of L.J. Buerger

April 18, 1957: Project of L.J. Buerger to elect a constitutional Committee during the Montreal Congress which could work for the establishment of the eventuel International Mineralogical Association. Such a committee could come to an existence in April 1958 during a meeting in Southern Europe.

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Memorandum of N.F.M. Henry

May 10, 1957: Memorandum of N.F.M. Henry relative to the "Committee to Investigate the Possibility of Establishing an International Union of Mineralogy" relative to the control on the publication of new minerals names. The memorandun was send to C. Guillemin (14 May 1957).

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Minutes of the Montreal meeting

July 16, 1957: Minutes of the Montreal meeting prepared by A. Pabst (secretary pro tem)

  • A (provisional) International Mineralogical Association was set up whose members are individual mineralogical societies
  • IMA interim officers were elected by the delegates to draft a constitution:
    • Chairman: G.F. Claringbull
    • Vice-chairman: F. Laves
    • Councillors: L.G. Berry, C. Guillemin, M. Fornaseri, F. Wickman, Grigoriev, M.J. Buerger
  • The following commisisons were created on
    • new species
    • preservation and accessibility of type material
    • nomenclature
    • abstracts
    • he continued publication and revision of the System of Mineralogy
    • Museum

There was the need for a program committee, a committee on excursions and a committee on committees. The first formal meeting of the IMA would be held in Madrid, April 1958. Delagates would vote on the constitution.

  • PDF - 132.5 kb
    report

October 2, 1957: Report of the "Committee to Investigate the Possibility of Establishing an International Union of Mineralogy" to the Mineralogical Society of America. This reports sums up the development of the successive committee designed to work for the creation of IMA.

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    Henry’s letter

February 8, 1958: Henry’s letter to C. Guillemin asking the latter to become the Secretary of the Committee on Nomenclature of New Minerals

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    C. Guillemin’s answer

February 11, 1958: C. Guillemin answer to Henry

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    Henry’s letter

February 14, 1958: Henry’s letter to C. Guillemin informing on the development of the organization to prepare the Madrid Meeting

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    C. Guillemin’s answer

February 17, 1958: C. Guillemin answer to Henry. Wyart is named as the delegate of the French Society of Mineralogy for the Madrid meeting

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    Henry’s letter

March 12, 1958: Henry’s letter to C. Guillemin informing on his arrival in Paris on the 28th of March

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    C. Guillemin’s answer

March 14, 1958: C. Guillemin letter to Claringbull to prepare the Madrid meeting. IMA participation is expected with Crystallographical meeting and Geological meeting alternatively.

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    Claringbull ’s answer

April 3, 1958: Claringbull answer to Guillemin, mainly on commissions

  • List of Chairmen and Secretaries of Commissions
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List of chairmens and secretaries of Commissions
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    conduct of business in Madrid

Beginning of April 1958: proposal for the conduct of business in Madrid

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    Drafts Statutes and Bye-laws

April 1958: Draft statutes and Bye-laws of the International Mineralogical Association

  • PDF - 25.6 kb
    M. Fleisher answer

May 21, 1958: M. Fleisher answer to R.L. Parker, accepting to became the first chairmen of the commission in New Minerals, and asking question where problems on nomenclature should be treated

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    C. Guillmemin’s letter

May 21, 1958: C. Guillemin letter to E. Bohnstedt-Kupletsky on the rules to edict for the commission on New Minerals

  • August 6, 1958: R.L. Parker letter to C. Guillemin with the report on the Foundation of the International Mineralogical Association and the Statutes and Bye-laws of the IMA
  • PDF - 75.8 kb
    C. Guillmemin’s letter

October 3, 1958: C. Guillemin letter to M. Fleischer on the duties of the Commission on New minerals and nomenclature