Mielcarek Family Donates
Collection to MAKC
By Kim Metzgar
Longtime Pittsburgh Grotto caver Paul Damon, Sr. recalled many stories of caving with his friend Frank Mielcarek. Caving trips, conventions, MAR meets. And, Paul said, no matter where he encountered Frank, he always seemed to be carrying a camera.
Frank’Äôs photographs appeared on many Netherworld News covers, won awards in the NSS photo salons, and appeared in the NSS News as well. Paul remembered Frank as having three main photographic interests: family, plants/nature, and caving. His collection comprised thousands of slides.
Frank, who lived in Bethel Park, died tragically on March 11, 2006, after a fire broke out in his home. He was 89. Surviving him are his wife, Agnes, sons Frank, Tom and Donn and two grandchildren. Frank was a longtime employee of Columbia Gas Co. In addition to caving and photography, he also enjoyed fishing and music, and played guitar with the Harmony Boys in the 1950s. Family members held a private service and his ashes were interred near Laurel Caverns.
Frank’Äôs family wished to keep his collection of cave books, periodicals and photographs together, someplace where they will not only be preserved, but will honor his memory. Thus, working in conjunction with Paul Damon, Sr., and MAKC board member Paul Damon, Jr., the Mielcareks have donated his collection to the Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy.
Due to the fire, everything in the home sustained smoke damage. Paul Damon, Sr., is currently inventorying some of the books on behalf of MAKC.
The MAKC is raising money and seeking grants to have the collection digitized, in part or all. Funds help our volunteers purchase the proper equipment, as well as supplies to proceed with the digitization effort. Future plans include are wide open, but potentially include a picture book featuring the best of some of Frank’Äôs photography, and making parts of the collection available for use in other speleological publications, particularly those affiliated with the National Speleological Society. A policy is being developed for reprinting his photos.
My personal collection includes a limited number of early Netherworld News newsletters. A sampling of the covers with Frank’Äôs work appears here.
 The September 1959 cover of Pamela Wells in Warm River Cave, Virginia, Volume VII, Number 9. |
 July 1961, Volume IX, Number 7, Con Cave, Westmoreland County, Pa., taken by and of Frank Mielcarek. |
 June 1958, Volume VI, Number 6, Raymond DeShong in Frank’Äôs Cave, Fayette County, Pa. |
 June 1961, Volume IX, Number 6, scratchboard of Elkhorn Mountain Cave. |
.jpg) The original color slide of Ray Deshong in a cave in Fayette County, Pa,, December, 1963, Volume XI, Number 12. |
 On this page above, is a dramatic photo of Ray Deshong in a cave in Fayette County, Pa,, December, 1963, Volume XI, Number 12. |
Donate to MAKC, P.O. Box 52, Blairsville, PA 15717.
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The Mud Slope Climb at the rear of the entrance room in Schoolhouse Cave, West Virginia. This photo took first place in the activities class at last year’Äôs NSS Convention, and appeared on the May, 1963 cover, Volume XI, Number 5. |
The November 1960 cover, Volume VIII, Number 11, features Any Man’Äôs Misery, Copperhead Cave, Westmoreland County, Pa.
The October, 1960, Volume VIII, Number 10, edition. Oliver C. Wells prepares to dive the Arch Spring resurgence, Blair County, Pa.
Back part of Copperhead Cave during bat collecting trip. Originally attributed to Graham Ward but later to Frank Mielcarek, Volume 5, Number 12, December 1957.
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