This collection of 600 polished stones from all over the world belonged to George O. Springer (1896-1989), a Mennonite man from Illinois. Early in his life, George Springer worked as a farmer, but right after WWI, he enlisted in the War Victims' Relief Service and became an integral leader in the development of a transportation system which facilitated food distribution throughout Europe. His experience in the War Victims' Relief Service strengthened his faith in God and piqued his interest in the world beyond his own origins.

Collecting stones was a hobby for Springer - although the extensive scope of the collection, the precision of the cuts, and the luminescence of the stones suggest a knowledge and interest far exceeding the conventional definition of "hobby." Springer cut, polished, researched and arranged the stones himself. The collection now resides at Goshen College, in a special display case in the Science Building.