Collection Overview

Inventory

Series 1: Photographic materials, 1876-2006

Series 1 contains photographic prints, lantern slides, film slides, and negatives dating back to the 1870s. Images depict the Zoo’s animals, buildings and grounds, exhibits, visitors, as well as the work of Zoo keepers and the Penrose Research Laboratory. The series includes several groups of materials, based on format and/or original filing scheme. Some groups are arranged by subject; others are arranged by date; and some are not arranged. There is card index (boxes 35 and 36) that can be used to help navigate the contact sheets (boxes 138 to 148) and film slides (boxes 27 to 34) by subject. Please refer to the inventory for more information.

74                    Hudson Bay Wolves, statue          1876
74                    The Dying Lioness, statue          1876
74                    Photo of Zoo, by F. Gutekunst          1876
18                    Miscellaneous animals, buildings, exhibits, and people          circa 1880-1940
37                    Zoo Keeper, James J. McCrossen with orangutans, Villa and Sylvia          1917
37                    Oversize photos, mostly of animals          1917, undated
73                    Portrait of Arthur Erwin Brown, D. Sc.          undated
161                    Air View of Zoo          1985
1                    Glass slides (wooden box)          circa 1880-1950
2                    Glass slides, includes viewer          circa 1880-1950
3                    Negatives, 1-1100           circa 1930-1950
4                    Negatives, 1200-2399          circa 1930-1950
5                    Negatives, 2240-3300          circa 1930-1950
6                    Negatives, 3400-4600          circa 1930-1950
7                    Negatives, 4617-5700          circa 1930-1950
8                    Negatives, 5700-6700          circa 1930-1950
9                    Negatives, 6700-7800          circa 1930-1950
10                    Negatives, 7558-8800          circa 1930-1950
11                    Negatives, 8839-10,000          circa 1930-1950
12                    Negatives, 10,028-11,000           circa 1930-1950
13                    Photo album          circa 1930-1950
14                    Prints. May Day (1940s), staff, events, people, buildings, graphics, chimps         circa 1930-1950
15                    Prints. Hoofed animals, gorilla, elephant, small mammals, orangutans, birds          circa 1930s-1950
16                    Prints. Frogs and other amphibians, lizards, flightless birds, and snakes          circa 1930-1950
24                    Prints. Miscellaneous birds, snakes, turtles and others, many hand-colored          circa 1930-1950
16                    Prints. Animal care - architecture/landscape          circa 1930-1980s
17                    Prints. Exhibits, Children’s Zoo, graphics          circa 1930-1980s
18                    Prints. People, staff and visitors          circa 1930s-1980s    
19                    Prints. Assorted animals, especially primates          circa 1960s
19                    Prints. Animals, A-C          undated
20                    Prints. Animals, D-O          undated
21                    Prints. Animals, P-Z          undated
21                    Prints. Trips and events; conference          1974, circa 1997, 2001, undated
22                    Prints. Special events and travel          circa 1930s-1980s
22                    Prints. Events          circa 1990s-2000s         
23                    Prints. Animals and insects, A-Z          circa 1990s-2000s
24                    Prints Events, people, buildings, animals          circa 1990s-2000s
27                    Slides. Mammals: gorillas, orangutans, drills, baboons, chimps          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
27                    Slides. Primates: gibbons, lemurs, marmosets, and tamarins monkeys          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
27                    Slides. Volume II a, lions          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
27                    Slides. Volume II b, tigers          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
27                    Slides. Cats          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
27                    Slides. Volume III, carnivores (excluding cats)          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
28                    Slides. Volume III, carnivores (excluding cats)          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
28                    Slides. Volume IV, (artiodactyl) Section A - section D: hippos, camels, llamas, giraffe, cattle, sheep          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
28                    Slides. Bear cubs, “Alberta” and “Leo”          1996
28                    Slides. Volume IV, (artiodactyl) section D - end: antelope, deer, swine           undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
28                    Slides. Chaka, Mike, Kimya, Demba          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
28                    Slides. Wolves          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
28                    Slides. Volume V, elephants, horses, zebras, tapirs, rhinos          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
29                    Slides. Volume VI, marsupials and small mammals          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
29                    Slides. Volume VII, reptiles and amphibians, section A - F: frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles, tortoises, crocodile           undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
29                    Slides. Volume VII, reptiles and amphibians, section G - end: lizards, iguanas, geckos, skinks, snakes          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
29                    Slides. Volume VIII A, sea mammals, insects          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
29                    Slides. Ducks, swans, geese          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
29                    Slides. Birds of prey: emu, ostrich; local birds: chickadee, chicken, dove, grouse, peacock, pheasant, quail, turkey          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
30                    Slides. birds of prey: emu, ostrich; local birds: chickadee, chicken, dove, grouse, peacock, pheasant, quail, turkey          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
30                    Slides. Jungle birds          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
30                    Slides. Cranes, flamingos, pelicans, penguins, storks, and other water birds          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
30                    Slides. Volume VIII b, Animal care and commissary          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
30                    Slides. Conservation          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
30                    Slides. Children’s Zoo          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. C2 and miscellaneous          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. Volume 3a, Things and Places: Picnic Grove, North Gate, etc.          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. Children’s Zoo II, Contact Yard          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. Volume 2b, Exhibits A-O          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. Volume 2c, Exhibits P-Z          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. Volume 3a, flowers, trees, landscape, snow scenes, sculpture in snow          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. Volume 3a II, Sculpture          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. Volume 3b, architecture, all buildings including Solitude          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
31                    Slides. Volume XIV, graphics; animals, exhibit display and signs, special events          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
32                    Slides. Volume XIV, graphics; animals, exhibit display and signs, special events          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
32                    Slides. Volume XV, graphics; campaigns and promotions, future plans           undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
32                    Slides. Volume 4a, visitors          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
32                    Slides. Volume 4b, visitors          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
32                    Slides. Former staff          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
32                    Slides. Volume 7, treehouse, mascots           undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
32                    Slides. Treehouse construction          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
33                    Slides. Volume 2a treehouse construction          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
33                    Slides. Primate Reserve, building plans, and other          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
33                    Slides. Volume XVII, old graphics; advertisements, animal and bird identification, signs, posters, vehicles          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
33                    Slides. Volume XVI, graphics and Remembrance Gallery          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
33                    Slides. Volume 5, zoo staff          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
33                    Slides. Volume 5.5, docents and volunteers          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
33                    Slides. Volume 6a, Events A-K          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
34                    Slides. Volume 6b, Events M-Z          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
34                    Slides. Volume 8, teddy bear rally and Run Wild at the Zoo, A-Z          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
34                    Slides. Volume 9, education workshops, A-J          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
34                    Slides. Volume 9, education workshops, K-Z          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
34                    Slides. Volume X, Zoo members activities and personalities          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
34                    Slides. Volume 1, historical          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
34                    Slides. Flower Show          undated (circa 1960s-1990s)
148                    Slides. Primate reserve construction          undated
35-36                    Card catalog/Photo index for contact sheets and slides          circa 1960s-1990s        
127                    Image of Hummingbird Exhibit for brochure          undated
138                    Contact sheets and negatives          1968-1969
139                    Contact sheets and negatives          1970-1972
140                    Contact sheets and negatives          1973-1975
141                    Contact sheets and negatives          1976-1978
142                    Contact sheets and negatives          1979-1980
143                    Contact sheets and negatives          1981-1982
144                    Contact sheets and negatives          1983
145                    Contact sheets and negatives          1984-1985
146                    Contact sheets and negatives          1986-1990
148                    Contact sheets and negatives          1991-1992
148                    Contact sheets and negatives          1992-1993
148                    Contact sheets and negatives          1994-1995
148                    Contact sheets and negatives          1996-1997
147                    Photographs. Assorted animals          undated
148                    Bird transparencies          undated

Series 2: Publications and printed materials, 1875-2016

Series 2 houses Zoo publications, including several animal and Zoo themed periodicals, newsletters, and guidebooks. There is a small body of correspondence and other records relating to the production of publications and to subscriptions. Lastly, there is a small collection of Zoo posters. The series is divided into three subseries: Books and periodicals, Correspondence and other records, and Posters.

Subseries 2.1: Books and periodicals, 1875-2016

54                    A to Z          1992-1994
46                    America's First Zoo          1949-1962
47                    America's First Zoo          1963-1976
48                    Animal Kingdom (includes America's First Zoo)          1976-1982
42                    Bulletin of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia          1926-1938
43                    Fauna          1939-1942
44                    Fauna          1943-1945
45                    Fauna          1946-1948
52                    Member News          2004-2010
53                    Member News          2010-2011
54                    North Gate          2001-2007
147                    Northgate: A newsletter for Friends and Supporters of the Philadelphia Zoo          Winter 2006-2007
148                    Volunteer Voice          1994-2014
51                    Zoo News          1992-1994
49                    Zoo One          1982-1991
56                    Zoo One          1994-2003
53                    Zoo Quarterly          2012-2014
53                    Zoo Quarterly          2014-2015
147                    Zoo Quarterly          2015-2016
51                    Zooscoop          2005           
131                    Souvenir Booklet          1919
131                    Year Book of the Philadelphia Zoological Garden (2 copies)          1926
131                    Souvenir Booklet          1929
131                    Children's Souvenir of the Zoo          circa 1900
131                    Pictures from the Zoo           1895
131                    Pictures from the Zoo           1899
131                    Pictures from the Zoo           1903
131                    Handy Guide Book          1935
131                    Handy Pocket Guide          undated
131                    A Trip to the Zoo (Radio Station WIP sponsor)          1945-1946
131                    Bears, Owls, Tigers and Others! Philadelphia’s Zoo, by William Biddle Cadwalader           1949
131                    Third take home Zoo book          1956
131                    Highlights of the Philadelphia Zoo: a self-guided tour (2 copies)          1983
131                    Highlights of the Philadelphia Zoo: a self-guided tour          1985
131                    An Animal Garden In Fairmount Park (2 copies in Zoo History)          1988
131                    From Peanut Butter to Rubber Stamps: creating Activity Kits that Work - a manual to explain Explore-a-Zoo kits          1996
131                    Explore-A-Zoo Project Evaluation and research, Technical Report          1998
132                    Illustrated Guide and Hand-book of the Zoological Gardens of Philadelphia          1875
132                    Illustrated Guide and Hand-book of the Zoological Gardens of Philadelphia, 2nd edition          1877
132                    Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 3rd edition          1883
132                    Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 4th edition          1886
132                    Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 8th edition, annotated          1900, 1905
132                    Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 9th edition, annotated          1905, 1906
25                    Guidebooks, #1-9         
132                    Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 10th edition, annotated          1906, 1907
132                    Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 12th edition          1908
132                    Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 13th edition          1909
132                    Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 14th edition          1913
132                    Official Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 15th edition          1918
132                    Official Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 16th edition          1921
133                    Official Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 17th edition          1923
133                    Official Guide to the Garden of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, 18th edition (2 copies)          1925
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 1st edition          1938
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 2nd edition          1939
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 3rd edition (3 copies)          1941
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 4th edition          1943
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 5th edition          1944
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 6th edition (3 copies)          1946
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 7th edition          1949
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 8th edition          1950
133                    Official Illustrated Guide Book to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 9th edition, 3 copies, each with updates and different cover          1953, 1959, 1960
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden (2 copies)          1964
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden          1967
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden          1969
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden          1971
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden (donated by Major James Robert Salome, Jr.)          1974
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden          1976
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden          1980
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden          1984
134                    President's Zoo Guide Book          1989
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Guest Map and Guide          1991
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Guest Map and Guide          1993
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Guest Map and Guide          1995
134                    Philadelphia Zoo Guide Book          1999
134                    Philadelphia Zoo, America's First Zoo, published by Beckon Books          2011

Subseries 2.2: Correspondence and other records, 1899-1967

130                    Letter to Brown from Henry Coates, regarding publication of booklet          1899
130                    Letter to Brown from Allen, Lane & Scott, printers, regarding copyright for guide book          1905
130                    Letters and subscription forms regarding Fauna          1940-1949
130                    Memoranda, agreements, minutes, and other records relating to Animal Kingdom, a joint publication of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia and the New York Zoological Society          1976-1977
130                    Review from various newspapers on the book The Peaceable Kingdom by John Sedgwick          1988
130                    Copyright registrations and related correspondence for the Philadelphia Zoo Official Illustrated Guide book, several editions          1941-1950
130                    Certificate of Registration for Reptiles and Amphibians of the Northeastern States          1947, 1957
130                    Copyright Certificate for the Philadelphia Zoo Animal Book and Guide to the Garden and Correspondence with the Copyright office          1964, 1967

Subseries 2.3: Posters, 1859-1986

127                    List of names of the original incorporators of the Zoological Society           1859
127                    “Enlist for a Free and Modern Zoo”          circa 1935
127                    “May Day at the Zoo, Sunday May 7, Frank Buck in person, Opening of New Monkey Island…”          1942
127                    Secretary of Navy, “Noah’s Ark” in Children’s Zoo          1957
127                    "Bicentennial Performances" from We the People"           
127                    World of Primates Opening          1986
128                    "The Berenstain Bears at Bear Country"           1980
128                    "America's First Great Teddy Bear Rally at the Philadelphia Zoo" signed by artist          1982
128                    "America's Great Teddy Bear Rally II" signed by artist (2 copies)          1983
128                    "America's Great Teddy Bear Rally..."          1984-1989
158                    World of Primates Opening          1986

Finding aid links

Collection overview

Series 1: Photographic materials, 1876-2006