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The Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Jeffrey Edward Post, Curator of Gems and Minerals, Emeritus, and Research Associate for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, is the recipient of the 2023 Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology.
During his distinguished career at the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Post not only oversaw the impressive expansion of the national gems and minerals collection – which now consists of more than 350,000 mineral specimens and 10,000 gems, making it one of the largest of its kind worldwide. He has also made major contributions to the scientific literature.
His areas of research interest include mineralogy, gemology, and geochemistry. He has published more than 150 scientific articles in these fields. He is the author of The National Gem Collection and the recently published The Smithsonian National Gem Collection – Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels.
“Dr. Jeffery Post’s contributions to gemology are substantial through his published works and his support of scientific gemological researchers seeking access to data and specimens from the collection,” stated AGA President Teri Brossmer. “We also laud Jeff’s work to raise the public’s interest in gems and minerals through speaking engagements at community groups and museums.”
Fellow Bonanno Award recipient Gary Roskin (2022) noted: “Dr. Post was instrumental in hosting numerous outstanding special exhibits at the Smithsonian, including the Dresden Green Diamond, The Allure of Pearls featuring the Hope Pearl and La Peregrina, The Splendor of Diamonds, which highlighted the Steinmetz Pink and the Moussaieff Red, and the 50th anniversary of the Hope Diamond with special guest gem the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond. This meeting of the two world’s largest deep blue diamonds gave Jeff the opportunity to facilitate the significant gemological study of the two blues. Dr. Post was also instrumental in acquiring permanent donations of gems and jewels to the Smithsonian’s collection, including the Lion of Merelani Tsavorite, the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, and so many more.”
Dr. Jeffrey Edward Post, a native of Wisconsin, received Bachelor of Science degrees in geology and chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, and his Ph.D. in chemistry, with a specialty in geochemistry, from Arizona State University. Before joining the Department of Mineral Sciences at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History in 1984, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for three years in the Department of Geological Sciences at Harvard University. He was Chairman of the Department of Mineral Sciences 1989-1994 and 2014-2019 and served as Curator-in-Charge of the U.S. National Gem and Mineral Collection from 1991 to 2023. Dr. Post was the lead Curator for the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals, which opened in 1997. In May 2023, he was appointed Curator of Gems and Minerals, Emeritus, and Research Associate for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Any member of the gemological community who has visited the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals has witnessed Jeffrey’s passion realized. The vision he created will surely introduce, mesmerize, teach, and excite people about gems for generations to come.
Founded in the year 2000, the Bonanno Award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the gemological field. A majority vote of the AGA membership elects the award recipients.
As the recipient of the 2023 AGA Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology, Dr. Post joins an elite group of the world’s leading gemologists and gemological researchers. The award includes a personalized plaque and honorarium funded by the AGA membership.
Dr. Post will be recognized at AGA’s Gala Dinner Dance following the AGA gemological conference on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel. Tickets to attend the conference and/or gala celebration are available online.
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