Rehousing the Wildlife Conservation Society Archives

FAIN: PG-51975-13

Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Park (Bronx, NY 10460-1068)
Kerry Prendergast (Project Director: May 2012 to July 2014)

The purchase of storage furniture and preservation supplies to rehouse special format items in the Wildlife Conservation Society Archives, including prints, scrapbooks, and photo albums. The archive contains over 12,000 linear feet of valuable resources not only for scholars interested in the history of science, but also for those writing on topics of cultural and social history. Scrapbooks from William T. Hornaday, who served as the first director of the Bronx Zoo from 1896 to 1937, highlight the history of the conservation movement, the development of urban zoos and aquariums, and New York City culture.

The Wildlife Conservation Society Archives comprises records created over the history of the organization, which began in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society. At over 1,200 linear feet, the Archives reflects WCS's substantial record of activities, which includes running the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Additionally, WCS manages over 500 conservation projects worldwide, and the conservation program's evolution can be traced to NYZS's earliest goals. As such, the WCS Archives holds broad importance to the humanities and special significance to those interested in cultural history and the history of science. The project presented here focuses on preserving special format items, including large prints, scrapbooks, and albums, representing a large swath of WCS history. Following a 2009 preservation assessment, this application requests funds for purchasing storage furniture and supplies to preserve these items.