Welcome to the Dallas Paleontological Society Website

The Dallas Paleontological Society was founded in 1984 for the purpose of promoting interest in and knowledge of the science of paleontology.  It was intended by the founding members that the Society would be a network for the exchange of data between professionals and serious amateurs in this field.

Welcome to our website. This is our 40th Anniversary year and we are excited that you found us. Come explore the world with us, as we delve into the past at our favorite fossil sites and at our monthly meetings.            

Regular Monthly Meeting April 9


Big Clam, Little Clam,

DPS met April 9th at 7PM, at Brookhaven Campus of Dallas College.  Dr. Thomas Yancey, emeritus professor at Texas A&M University,  gave the main presentation about “Late Paleozoic bivalves: the big, the small, and the undescribed”.

Dr. Yancey received his BA in Geology in 1966, MA in Geology in 1969, and PhD in Paleontology in 1971, all from the University of California, Berkeley.  He then taught geology at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur for 4 years, and then at Idaho State University in Pocatello for 5 years.  Since 1980 he has taught at Texas A&M University.  Specializing in invertebrates, particularly bivalves, he has authored or co-authored 6 monographs, more than 110 journal articles, and more than 120 abstracts.  His long-term research interests are Carboniferous and Permian marine paleoenvironments and paleo-oceanography, sequence stratigraphy of Paleogene strata exposed in the Brazos River valley of east-central Texas, paleoecology and systematics of late Paleozoic and Triassic mollusks, and the Carboniferous macrofossils of the Buckhorn asphalt deposit in southern Oklahoma.

Our meetings are always open to the public and free!  Some DPS members brought food and snacks to share, and the society provided bottled water.  

Examples of fossils above were brought to the meeting to show Dr. Yancey.  Many people had collected their similar fossils from the Jacksboro field trip site the Saturday before this meeting. Those above were collected by Josh Hanley and can also be seen on the Dallas Paleo Face Book page.

DPS

FOSSILMANIA 2025 INFO!

              

Expo Hours:

Friday, October 24       8 am – 6 pm

Saturday, October 25 9 am – 6 pm

Sunday, October 26     9 am – 4 pm

FOSSILMANIA, Texas’ longest running fossil-specific trade show, is held at the Expo at Glen Rose 202 Bo Gibbs Blvd, W Hwy 67, Glen Rose, Texas 76043. As a fossil-specific trade show, vendors are asked to, please, keep selection to a minimum of 75% fossil and paleontology related items (including, but not limited to fossils, books, clothing, equipment, tools, etc.).

DPS Officers for 2025

The officers for 2025 are: 

President: Joe O'Neil mailto:president@dallaspaleo.org

Vice President: Dana Baggott    mailto:vp@dallaspaleo.org

Fossil Record Editor: David Hill mailto:editor@dallaspaleo.org

Secretary:   Julia Hall mailto:secretary@dallaspaleo.org

Treasurer Pam (Paul) Lowers    mailto:treasurer@dallaspaleo.org               

Fossil Bits and Pieces

The DPS offers extra benefits for Members. Types of Memberships and costs of each can be found under MEMBERSHIP choice in the menu bar, then New Member Online Application. Below is a list of what Members receive and the reasons you should plan to join (or re-join) us in our paleo adventures!

                                        MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Newsletter: The Fossil Record, the Society’s monthly newsletter, is sent to all Members.

Volunteerism: Volunteer opportunities to work the DPS booths provides community outreach, interaction with the public, and occasionally free entry to an event.  We need volunteers for all committees (to see our list of committees, click here) and activities.

Special Events: Members receive Eblasts on surprise events and reminders of upcoming events.

DPS Website: Current members have access to the Members only section of the DPS website, which includes the Membership Directory, past newsletters, and more.

Field Trips: Some field trips have limited access (quarries, Oklahoma trilobites, etc.), and some field trips are designated Members-Only.

Excavations: Participation in Fossil Bureau of Investigation (FBI) excavations.

Discounts: Fossil prep kits, display items, books, and other unique items are occasionally offered at a discount to Members.

Occasional Papers: Each Occasional Papers is a collection of in-depth articles on paleontology written by members. One copy per membership is free to members for a limited time immediately following publication. Past Occasional Papers are available for purchase.

Family: Family Membership provides a discount to a second adult and allows for PIT Crew membership in which children can participate in special PIT Crew-only workshops, classroom activities, and field trips.

Dues pay for: food and drinks at the monthly meetings, refreshments on field trips, scholarships, and professional speakers for special meetings.


Latest info on Lake Ralph Hall on the North Sulphur River:

Lake Ralph Hall/North Sulphur River, Fanin County

We at SMU prepared a short video about the Smithsonian exhibit, "Sea Monsters Unearthed: Life in Angola's Ancient Seas," that has been posted on the Embassy of Angola in the United States website (https://angola.org) and on the Embassy Facebook page.  To see it, click on the link (https://angola.org), which will take you to the website.  The video is playing without sound on the banner.  Scroll down to Highlights and you will see a photo of a fossil. Click on that photo and you will see the video with sound and Portuguese captioning on the Embassy Facebook page. Attached is an information sheet about the exhibit, prepared for the Angolan Embassy.  If you would like the video with English captioning, just let me know.  Enjoy!

Louis Jacobs, DPS Advisor        jacobs@mail.SMU.edu  

NMNH Notice and Links_July 2020.docx       (This will download to your computer to view.)

We are very happy to announce that the very first Occasional Papers Volume 1, written by 9 members of the founding group of the DPS is now available to download!  It is under the HOME choice on the menu bar, then Members-Only Content and then Documents and Resources.

To see the info for Earth Science week, click here.

The Paleontograph back issues are now available at the following link

https://www.aaps-journal.org/the-paleontograph.html


Dallas Library and DPS

The Dallas Library’s Podcast on Natural Dallas (P.O.N.D.) Annual Community Nature Expo includes a video featuring the DPS. Please watch all the videos for some interesting things to do and learn about in the outside world. Visit http://dallaslibrary2.org/pond/ for the videos.

Upcoming Events

What we have been doing!

Horseshoe Bend Field Trip Video 3/1/25

https://youtu.be/spYdTAWBwm8?t=3

Ash Grove Quarry Field Trip 3/16/25


Recent Publications

Now Available!

Order your T-Shirt Now.  Click on the image to see details.

   

Also Available Now

Copies can be purchased at monthly meetings for instant gratification. Or the book can be purchased and shipped to your home by Clicking Here

Join us now

Come and join us for a great time at our next meeting, and click below to become a member.  Individual and Family memberships are available, and kids can participate in the PIT Crew (Paleontologists In Training).

Mail Check to:

DPS

PO BOX 223846

Dallas, Texas 75222-3846



JOIN US


The PIT Crew

The Paleontologists In Training is a program of the DPS that is open to kids from age 7 to 15.  If you are interested in fossils, want to have fun on field trips, and like learning about our beautiful world, come join us at one of our meetings, or field trips.  You will find it educational, and fun at the same time!

For more information, Click the link here or click the link under the home page called "For Kids - The Pit Crew" , to see policies, upcoming events, announcements, and how to sign up to take advantage of this program.





About Us and Our Monthly Meetings

The Dallas Paleontological Society normally meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM.

We are holding our monthly meetings Face to Face and on ZOOM.  Come meet with us about 6:30 PM before the start of the meeting. You will be welcome, and we will enjoy meeting you. This is a way to show your latest finds, get identification for them, and meet and greet other paleo people. Our speakers are a great way to learn about paleontology. 

Buy DPS Books Online

You can now buy books from the DPS online by clicking the "Store" button on the navigation bar at the top of this page.  If you buy online, and we ship the books to your home, you will have a shipping charge and tax.  If you buy the book at a meeting, you will not have to pay the shipping fee or tax.  Check out this new service.

Questions For DPS?

If You have any questions about the Dallas Paleo Society feel free to:

Contact Us 

Hot Line 

817-355-4693 

Who we are

The DPS is a group of professional and amateur paleontologists that want to exchange information, interact, and continue their education in paleontology.  We meet once a month on the second Wednesday evening of the month at Brookhaven College, Building H.

Mailing address: 

Dallas Paleontological Society 
P.O. Box 223846 Dallas, Texas 75222-3846



What we do

Do you have a question? If you have a fossil you cannot identify, or need a site investigation, contact the Fossil Bureau of Investigation for help.

Contact Us at 817-355-4693.


 

Why join us

We have fun.

We learn stuff.

We go cool places.

We find interesting things.

We make new friends.


Visiting Researcher Program

The Dallas Paleontological Society (DPS) offers local logistical assistance to professionals/academics conducting research in the North Central Texas area.  Assistance may include the loan of tools, but is not financial.  Past projects have included providing transportation to field sites, assistance in locating particular fossils or outcrops of a particular formation, field collection and excavation.     If you are interested in assistance, please contact the DPS President at president@dallaspaleo.org


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