New York Zoological Park. Office of Director and General Curator. William T. Hornaday scrapbooks

On June 27, 1896, William T. Hornaday, who had recently been hired to serve as Director of the New York Zoological Park, traveled to zoological gardens in Europe at the behest of the New York Zoological Society Executive Committee. Accompanied by his wife, Josephine, he was sent to acquaint himself with "methods of management, relation to public authorities, means of support, details and plans of buildings and of all equipment connected with the animals, special methods of caging and exhibition, general arrangement of the parks with reference both to exhibition and pleasure grounds, photographs, plans, maps, architects’ details, etc." Armed with a $500 travel budget, the Hornadays visited fifteen zoological gardens in England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and France. Hornaday was very impressed with the popularity of European zoos, and when he returned, he brought encouraging words, advice, and ideas to the NYZS Executive Committee, who were trying to raise money and social support for the Society.

Throughout his career, Hornaday documented his work and interests in scrapbooks. In addition to the albums documenting other zoos, he collected materials related to the Bronx Zoo, as well as his wildlife conservation campaigns, in scrapbooks.