STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
Related collections:
s626 ST. LOUIS
ZOOLOGICAL PARK (1913- ), ANIMAL TRANSACTION LEDGERS, 1914-1988
s744 ST. LOUIS ZOOLOGICAL PARK (1913- ), ADDENDA, 1919-1950
Charles Hoessle, director of the St. Louis Zoological Park, loaned the Zoo's early records and scrapbooks to the Western Historical Manuscript Collection for microfilming on April 12, 1985. Mr. Hoessle loaned additional scrapbooks for microfilming on February 14, 1989.
A city ordinance officially established the St. Louis Zoo on 77 acres in Forest Park on December 13, 1913. However, its origins can be traced to the founding of Forest Park in 1874. Scattered, improvised housing for the display of a few animals was built there during the next 20 years. In 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition included as a major exhibit a huge, wire-mesh aviary built by the Smithsonian Institution. Left standing after the fair, the aviary proved to be the catalyst in sparking civic interest in a permanent zoo.
The five-member Zoological Board of Control held its first meeting on December 26, 1913, under the chairmanship of St. Louis Park Commissioner Dwight F. Davis. Other members included St. Louis Mayor Henry W. Kiel, James Y. Player, Robert H. Keiser and George H. Dieckman, a broker who had used his own money to purchase animals for exhibit in the park. In November 1916, St. Louis voters approved a 1/5 mill tax and the Zoo became the first in the world to be so supported.
The board appointed George Vierheller as Zoo director in 1919, beginning a 40-year career which led to the Zoo's growth from infancy to the position of a world famous institution. Marlin Perkins, who became director in 1960, began his career at the Zoo in 1926.
Zoo construction landmarks from 1917 through 1941 include: Chain of Lakes and Seal Basin; Bear Pits with geologically accurate reproductions of Mississippi River limestone palisades; Primate House; Reptile House and Small Mammal Wing; Bird House and Wing; Antelope House with man-made boulders reproducing granite outcroppings at Graniteville, Missouri; Barless Animal Units with moats, landscaped yards, Anthropoid Ape House, and Chimpanzee Arena and Addition.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The records document the evolution of Zoo philosophy from providing entertainment to educating the public and preserving animal species. The collection is divided into four series:
1. Administrative Records, 1917-1940;
2. Scrapbooks, 1910-1941;
3. Scrapbooks, 1945-1963.
4. Scrapbooks, 1962-1984
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
SERIES 1- ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, 1917-1940. FOLDERS 1-62.
Includes annual reports, 1917-1941; Zoological Board of Control Minutes, 1913-1941 (additional board of control minutes are included in series 3); correspondence, 1915, 1930; Payroll records, 1920; an incomplete run of issues of the publication, St. Louis Zoo, 1930-1935.
SERIES 2 - SCRAPBOOKS, 1910-1941. VOLUMES 1-11.
Includes newsclippings scrapbooks. Arranged chronologically.
SERIES 3 - SCRAPBOOKS, 1945-1963. VOLUMES 1-14.
Includes newsclippings scrapbooks. Arranged chronologically. Includes Zoological Board of Control Meeting Minutes, April 27, 1945-December 5, 1968. The volume number indicated by parenthesis reflects the original number assigned by the donor.
SERIES 4 - SCRAPBOOKS, 1962-1984
The volume numbers reflect the original number assigned by the donor.
FOLDER LIST
MICROFILM ROLL 1
SERIES 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, 1917-1940. FOLDERS 1-62.
1. Annual Report, April, 1917
2. Annual Report, April, 1918
3. Annual Report, April, 1919
4. Annual Report, April, 1920
5. Annual Report, April, 1921
6. Annual Report, April, 1922
7. Annual Report, April, 1923
8. Annual Report, April, 1924
9. Annual Report, April, 1925
10. Annual Report, April, 1926
11. Annual Report, April, 1927
12. Annual Report, April, 1928
13. Annual Report, April, 1929
14. Annual Report, April, 1930
15. Annual Report, April, 1931
16. Annual Report, April, 1932
17. Annual Report, April, 1933
18. Annual Report, April, 1934
19. Annual Report, April, 1935
20. Annual Report, April, 1936
21. Annual Report, April, 1937
22. Annual Report, April, 1938
23. Annual Report, April, 1939
24. Annual Report, April, 1940
25. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Dec. 1913 -March 1918
26. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1918 -March 1920
27. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1920 -March 1922
MICROFILM ROLL 2
28. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1922 -March 1923
29. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, May 1923 -March 1924
30. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1924 -March 1925
31. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1925 -March 1926
32. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1926 -March 1927
33. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1927 -April 1927
34. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1928 -March 1929
35. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1929 -March 1930
36. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1930 -March 1931
MICROFILM ROLL 3
37. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1931 -March 1932
38. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1932 -February 1933
39. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1933 -February 1934
40. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Jun. 1934 -Feb. 1935
41. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1935 -March 1936
42. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, May 1936 -February 1937
43. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1937 -February 1938
44. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1938 -February 1939
45. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, May 1939 -January 1940
46. Zoological Board of Control Minutes, Apr. 1940 -January 1941
MICROFILM ROLL 4
47. Secretary's Report on Finances, May 1930 - Dec. 1930
48. Secretary's Report on Finances, 1931
49. Secretary's Report on Finances, 1932
50. Secretary'sReport on Finances, 1933
51. Secretary's Report on Finances, 1934
52. Secretary's Report on Finances, FY Apr 1934-Apr 1935
53. Secretary's Report on Finances, 1935
54. Secretary's Report on Finances, 1936
55. Secretary's Report on Finances, 1937
56. Secretary's Report on Finances, 1938
57. Secretary's Report on Finances, 1939
58. Secretary's Report on Finances , 1940
59. Correspondence, 1915, 1930
60. Payroll, January 16-30, 1920
61. The St. Louis Zoo, 1930-1932 (incomplete)
62. The St. Louis Zoo, 1933-1935 (incomplete)
MICROFILM ROLL 5
SERIES 2 - SCRAPBOOKS, 1910-1941. VOLUMES 1-11.
1. Scrapbook, 1910
2. Scrapbook, 1912
3. Scrapbook, 1912, 1913
4. Scrapbook, 1913-1921
5. Scrapbook, 1921-1924, 1926
MICROFILM ROLL 6
6. Scrapbook, 1926-1930
7. Scrapbook, 1932-1935
8. Scrapbook, 1934-1936
9. Scrapbook, 1936-1937
10. Scrapbook, 1937-1939
11. Scrapbook, 1939-1941
MICROFILM ROLL 7
SERIES 3 - SCRAPBOOKS, 1945-1963. VOLUMES 1-14.
1. Zoological Board of Control Meeting Minutes, April 27, 1945-February 20, 1953
MICROFILM ROLL 8
2. Zoological Board of Control Meeting Minutes, June 2, 1953-December 5, 1968
3. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume VI), September 1941-May 1945
4. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume VII), April 1945-July 1946
5. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume VIII), June 1946-March 1948
6. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume IX), February 1948-June 1950
7. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume X), August 1950-January 1953
MICROFILM ROLL 9
8. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume XI), October 1952-April 1955
9. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume XII), April 1955-April 1956
10. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume XIII), November 1956-February 1958
11. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume XIV), February 1958-February 1959
12. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume XV), April 1959-May 1960
13. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume XVI), May 1960-November 1961
14. Newsclippings Scrapbook (Volume XVII), October 1961- April 1963
SERIES 4 - SCRAPBOOKS, 1962-1984
MICROFILM ROLL 10
Volumes 24-37
MICROFILM ROLL 11
Volumes 38-46
MICROFILM ROLL 12
Volumes 47-55
INDEX
Abbott, J.F., v. 1-4
Alhambra Grotto, f. 27
Aloe, Louis P., f. 25
American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, f. 33, 39, 45; v. 7
American Institute of Park Executives, f. 32, 35, 39; v. 6, 7
American Park Society, f. 32, 39
Angermeyer, Martin C., f. 1, 5, 25; v. 1-5, 9
Animal Dealers, f. 1-62; v. 7-11
Animal Habitats, f. 3-7, 9, 11-13, 17, 26-28, 31-34,; v. 4-11
Animal Performances, f. 10, 14, 16, 18, 23, 32, 34-35, 44, 46; v. 5-11
Animal Welfare, f. 27, 29, 31-34, 45; v. 4-11
Antivenin Institute of America, f. 12-13; v. 6
Barnes Hospital, f. 5
Baumann, Ludwig, f. 42
Blanke, C.F., v. 1
Brown, Baxter L., f. 39-46; v. 10-11
Buck, Frank, f. 17, 28-31, 39, 42; v. 7-10
Busch, Adolphus III, f. 25-27
Busch, August A., f. 14, 25; v. 1, 7
Bushman (gorilla), v. 7
Byrd, Admiral Richard E., v. 8
Carondelet Park, v. 2, 3
City Club, f. 27
Collins, John P., f. 40, 41
Cunliff, Nelson, f. 25-26, 59
Cunningham, Charles, f. 44-46; v. 11
Cupples Company, f. 31; v. 5
Davis, Dwight F., f. 25; v. 1-4
Dickman, Bernard F., f. 39-46; v. 8-11
Dieckman, George E., f. 9, 12-13, 25-46; v. 1-11
Ditmars, Raymond C., v. 5-10
Drach, William H., f. 9, 12-13, 33
Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, f. 41, 44
Fitzsimmons, Bernard J., f. 41
Flach, Charles H., f. 5, 27; v. 3-4
Forest Park, f. 1, 12, 24, 44-45; v. 1-11
Gardner, William K., f. 41-46; v. 8-11
German Orphans Protestant Association, f. 26
Golden, Emmett, f. 39
Governmental Research Institute of St. Louis, f. 44
Hagenbeck, Lorenz (director, Hamburg Germany zoo), f. 11, 33-34; v. 4-8, 10
Hall, Nathan, f. 25-26
Harris, Courtland, v. 1-4
Heck, Heinz (director, Muenchen Germany zoo), f. 34
Heck, Lutz (director, Berlin Germany zoo), f. v. 8
Kammerer, Dr. R.A., f. 7-15, 31, 33-34, 41; v. 7-9
Keiser, Robert H., f. 25-26; v. 3-4
Kennon, Henry M., f. 14-15, v. 8-11
Kiel, Henry W., f. 7, 25-30; v. 1, 4-5
Kinsey, E.R., f. 9, 12-13, 25-39; v. 7
Kostial, Mike, v. 8-10
Kuhs, Edward L., f. 37-39
Leidesdorf, S.D. and Company, f. 17
Lemp, Edwin A., f. 14, 39, 40-46; v. 1, 7-11
Lentz, Moody J.R., f. 13, 18, 20, 36, 38, 40-41, 43-45; v. 6-7, 9-11
Leuhrmann, Alfred D., f. 14
Masterson, James J., f. 9, 12-13, 29-46; v. 6, 8-11
Mestres, Joseph, f. 42-46; v. 10-11
Miller, Victor J., f. 8-9, 12-13, 31-39; v. 6-7
Miller, William A., f. 39-41; v. 8
Million Population Club, v. 1
Missouri Bureau of Conservation and Wildlife Protection, f. 27
Missouri Prohibition Committee, f. 44
Moola Temple, f. 27
Muskopf, Henry C., f. 25-27; v. 3-4, 10
Neuman, Charles H., f. 9, 12-13, 27, 29-36
Newton, Cleveland, f. 25-28; v. 10
Nolte, Louis, f. 9, 12-13, 25-43; v. 6, 7, 10-11
North, John Ringling, f. 46; v. 11
O'Fallon Park, f. 4
Pape, Fred, f. 7, 9, 11-13, 26-39; v. 5-7
Perkins, R. Marlin, f. 11-15, 18, 20, 33, 35-44, 59; v. 6-10
Player, James Y., f. 25
Pullman Club, f. 25
Roninger, William, f. 27-29
Sachs, William, f. 9, 12-13, 27-41; v. 6
St. Louis Board of Education, f. 33
St. Louis County Welfare Association, f. 26
St. Louis Efficiency Board, f. 26
St. Louis Globe-Democrat, f. 44; v. 10, 11
St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce, f. 27
St. Louis University, f. 18
St. Louis Zoological Park, f. 1-62; v. 1-11
St. Luke's Hospital, f. 11
Schwartz, Wilbur, f. 26-28
Schwarz, Frank, f. 9, 12-13, 25-39; v. 1-5
Scott, Michael J., f. 41, 42
Sullivan, John, f. 44, 45
Tamme, William, f. 28
The St. Louis Zoo, f. 61, 62
Toto Tembo (elephant), v. 8
United Railways Company, v. 1-2
Vierheller, George, f. 4-46; v. 5-11
Wallace, John, f. 7-13, 32, 34, 39, 41, 44, 46; v. 6, 7, 9-10
Walsh, Dr. Lawrence S., f. 29, 43-46; v. 10-11
Washington University, f. 18, 29
Windmuller, G.A., f. 1-2
Works Progress Administration, f. 41, 44; v. 10
Zoo, f. 1-62; v. 1-11
Zoo Aquarium Controversy, f. 46; v. 5-8, 10-11
Zoo Bill (mill tax passed Oct. 1916), f. 1, 9, 25-26, 32-33; v. 4, 6
Zoological Society, f. 1, 14, 25-27, 32-33; v. 1-10
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
222 THOMAS JEFFERSON LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
ONE UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63121
(314) 516-5143