Beyond C-3: Volume I

Description:

The annual convention of the National Speleological Society (NSS) was slated to be held in Louisville, Kentucky in April 1953. During the lead-up to the convention, NSS President Charles E. Mohr and certain other members of the Society were afforded a glimpse into Collins Crystal Cave (C-3) in Kentucky. The ownership and management of Collins Crystal Cave surmised that additional scientific knowledge…plus any associated boost in publicity…would be good for business. Suitably impressed, Mohr and company were excited for the NSS to receive—during September 1953—a formal invitation to study and explore the cave. After due consideration the invitation was accepted, and Joe Lawrence was appointed Expedition Leader. Finally, the in-field dates were firmed up—they would span Sunday, February 14 through Saturday, February 20, 1954.

Lawrence promptly requested input from trusted colleagues, including Gerald Bloch (a top rock-climber in the Society) and John D. Parker (a safety expert with the NSS). It was ascertained that a scientific expedition of the proposed scope would be expected to study geology, hydrology, meteorology, and cave biology. The team should also assist in mapping any new cave passages that might be found. And, the effects of long-term underground exploration on the physical and psychological well-being of the cavers might be studied.

The materials reproduced in this volume of the Beyond C-3 series include documents leading up to the formal establishment of the C-3 Expedition. Subsequent sections feature correspondence detailing the myriad topics addressed before the expedition deployed to the field. Also published herein are several draft versions of standardize questionnaires that applicants would be expected to complete. Finally, there are certain materials germane to medical considerations and psychological profiling.

Following the policy employed with other volumes in the Beyond C-3 series, these documents were physically recovered and electronically scanned. In some cases, the scans published herein are from original pages that include an official letterhead. In other instances, only the carbon copies have been located, and thus the carbons are relied upon for the associated reproductions. In all cases, these artifacts are being published “as-is”—including any annotations, hiccups, and blemishes that make them truly unique.

A few documents from this volume

A few images from this volume

Captions identifying the people and photographs are included in the book.