Zoological Park Defense Committee records, circa 1917

These records consist of incoming correspondence (and sometimes carbon copies or drafts of outgoing correspondence), staff memoranda, reports, and working papers reflecting the planning, policies, and day-to-day operations administered by the Director and General Curator of the Zoological Park.

Records cover planning, construction, opening, and improving zoological exhibits; the acquisition, shipment, and acclimation of animal collections; veterinary matters; queries from zoologists, zoo visitors, and the general public; public relations; and relations with the City of New York concerning transportation facilities and funding; and other aspects of park management.

Early documents include successive drafts of proposed state charter legislation; agreements with the Board of Estimate and Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the City of New York granting South Bronx Park to the New York Zoological Society, and regarding construction of the Zoological Park; and the selection of Hornaday as Director and his first visits to the leading zoological gardens of Europe on behalf of the New York Zoological Society.

In addition to other New York Zoological Society officers such as William Beebe, Lee S. Crandall, Raymond L. Ditmars, Madison Grant, and Henry Fairfield Osborn, the many notable correspondents in this collection include Frank Buck, Carl Hagenbeck, C. J. "Buffalo" Jones, Theodore Roosevelt, and Carl Rungius. (Please note, however, that this collection is not currently indexed by correspondent.)