The Early DC Cavers … Do Any Still Survive?
Shortly after its founding in 1939, the Speleological Society of the District of Columbia (SSDC) published a comprehensive Bulletin detailing its organization, its knowledge of the regional caving scene and a few fascinating trip reports*. In addition, this pre-NSS Bulletin published its membership list, which included 66 individuals described as either active or associate members. These SSDC members might arguably be considered the founding members of our Grotto. The list is nearly 70 years old and it is conceivable (possibly even likely) that some of these people are still alive. Does anyone know if any of these people still survive to interview?
Speleological Society of the District of Columbia Active(*) and Associate member ship list, (June 1940):
Walter S. Amos Winchester, Va. Curator, Front Royal Caverns
Elwood A. Baker Alexandria, Va. Washington Star photographer
Vernon Bailey Washington, DC. Mammologist, Smithson. Inst (retd).
Dr. H. S. Barber Washington, DC. Entomologist, U.S. Nat. Museum
Dr. R. S. Bassler* Washington, DC. Head, Dept of Geology, GWU
Dr. Bruce Bennett* Washington, DC. Physician
Don Bloch* Bethesda, Md. Bureau of Fisheries
E.E.W. Bowen Bethesda, Md. President, Bowen Instrument Co.
Dr. Austin H. Clark* Washington, DC. Naturalist, U.S. National Museum
Jo Hubbard Chamberlain New York City Author
Dr. Robert Coats* Washington, DC. Geologist, USGS
Charles Cooke* Washington, DC. Govt. clerk, REA
Martha Corcoran Washington, DC. Student, UMd
Myron Dunlavy Hamburg, NY. President, Lincoln Caverns
Jerome M. Garland* Chevy Chase, Md. Justice Dept. lawyer
Pat Gower Washington, DC. Telephone co. engineer
Oma Hackstaff Takoma Park, Md. Sales clerk, Woodward & Lothrop
George J. Hall, Jr.* Washington, DC. Engineer, Washington Airport
O.B. Harman Petersburg, WV. Manager, Smokehole Caverns
Elmer W. Harmon* Washington, DC. Patent examiner, US Patent Office
D.K. Harmon Petersburg, WV. Technician, Seneca Caverns
Dr. Alfred C. Hawken Winchester, Va. Geologist, Pot. River Flood Control
Dr. Harry H. Henderson* Washington, DC. Physician
Paul Herbert, Jr. Chicago, Ill. Instructor in Geology, U. of Chicago
Dr. R. J. Holden Blacksburg, Va. Dept. Head, Geology, VPI
Bushrod Hopkins Washington, DC. US Merchant Marine
Franklin Hortman* Washington, DC. Clerk, War Dept.
Joe Johnson* Washington, DC. Engineer, Washington Airport
Carter Brooke Jones Washington, DC. Washington Star reporter
Dr. Remingon Kellog Washington, DC. Mammologist, Smithsonian Inst.
James I. Lavelle Newark, NJ. Clerk, Railroad Retirement Board
Estyl Lambert Riverton, WV. Manager, Seneca Caverns
Arthur C. Lembeck Washington, DC. Biochemist, Bureau of Dairy Ind.
Al C. Lewis* Chevy Chase, Md. Lewis Advertising Agencies
William Mahone McGill Charlottesville, Va. Geologist, USGS
John F. Meenehan* Washington, DC. Clerk, Post Office Dept.
Charles E. Mohr Philadelphia, Pa. Phila. Academy of Natural Sciences
Robert Morgan* Washington, DC. Patent Examiner, US Patent Office
Dorothy D. Morrision* Falls Church, Va. Housewife
Dr. Joseph P.E. Morrision* Falls Church, Va. Naturalist, U.S. National Museum
Eileen Neuhausel Pittsburgh, Pa. Stenographer
Clay Perry Pittsfield, Ma. Author
Thornton T. Perry, Jr.* Charles Town, WV. President, Front Royal Caverns
John S.”Pete” Petrie Arlington, Va. Patent Examiner, US Patent Office
Dr. E. R. Pohl Horse Cave, Ky. Manager, Mammoth Onyx Caverns
Donald Reichard Washington, DC. Draftsman, DC Government
R. H. Sargent Washington, DC. USGS
William J. Schlichtig Washington, DC. Draftsman, Govt. Printing Office
Mrs. Wm. J. Schlichtig Washington, DC. Housewife
Leon Schlossberg Washington, DC. Social Research Analysis
Jack Shultz* Rockville, Md. Library of Congress
Alden Snell* Washington, DC. Accountant
Merle O. Stephenson* Washington, DC. Housewife
William J. ”Bill” “Steve” Stephenson* Wash., DC. Patent Examiner, US Patent Office
Dan J. Tyrrell* Washington, DC. Cashier, GWU
Eddie Vanderlip Washington, DC. Auditor, FHA
Herman C. Vollmer* Washington, DC. Engineer, Water Dept.
Dwight H. Vorkeeper (Vorkoeper?)* Garrett Park, Md. Draftsman, Census Bureau
Ruth Ellen Vorkeeper Washington, DC. Housewife
William J. Vorkeeper Washington, DC Service Dept. Philgas Co.
Dr. W. W. Welsh* Rockville, Md. Physician
Jean R. Williams Wilkinsburg, Pa. Engineer, Westinghouse Co.
John J. Wilson* Washington, DC Secy. Long-Bell Lumber Co.
Florence I. Whitley Arlington, Va. Masseuse, Elizabeth Arden
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*Bulletin of the Speleological Society of the District of Columbia, Vol I, June, 1940, Speleological Society of the District of Columbia, reprinted 1955.