The George A. Ashley Collection consists of photographic material documenting minerals and mines in San Diego County. The collection includes photographic prints, negatives and memorabilia compiled by George Ashley, a noted San Diego County miner and lapidary artist.

George Alfred Ashley was born on November 24, 1904 near the city of Orange in Orange County, California. He moved to Ramona when he was 11 years old and lived there for 20 years. He first became interested in minerals when he was in 4th grade when some of his fellow students brought quartz and garnet crystals to school. George quit school by the end of his freshman year of high school and instead focused on doing ranch work, cutting stones and making jewelry. He and a Ramona machinist designed and built a faceting head for cutting gemstones. Ashley eventually learned to cut Mesa Grande and Ramona tourmaline. He met Louis Spaulding, owner of the Little Three mine in Ramona, and re-discovered the McFall garnet mine situated several miles southwest of Ramona. In 1947, he bought the entire Hiriart Hill including the San Pedro, Anita, White Queen, Naylor, Katerina, El Molino, and Vandenberg mines located in Pala, California. This made him the dominant force in San Diego County morganite and kunzite mining.

1 Linear Feet

Copyright may be reserved. Consult the San Diego Natural History Research Library Director for more information.

The collection is open to researchers by appointment. Contact the Research Library Director, San Diego Natural History Museum.