Richard W. Graeme IV

My ancestors came to Bisbee in the Arizona Territory in 1883. Here, they became miners and were proud of their profession. They resided relatively quietly, until the Mexican Revolution, when different parts of the family chose to support opposing sides. I do suspect that my great grandfather, who supported General Obregon, did more so for the excitement and quick money, than for any political allegiance. The family continues to work as miners and my father transformed from a miner to a mining engineer. Our house was filled with tales of adventures, mostly mining, and had cabinets filled with glittering azurites and malachite ore samples from the mines. By the time I was old enough to work, the mines in Bisbee were closed. I became an underground miner working at the Sunnyside, Golden Queen and Continental mines, among others. All of these were scattered throughout the West. It was becoming evident that underground mining was largely dying out and becoming a mining engineer was unwise. I taught a class on mining and mineralogy through a local college. Through this experience, I discovered that I had a passion for education and became a teacher. For the last 17 years, I have been teaching, focusing on science and history. My extra time is filled with time research and studying Bisbee mineralogy.