<
https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/22399/WCS-Library-and-Archives-Unveils-Digitized-Historic-Film-Collection.aspx>
'Bronx, NY, April 29, 2024 — The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Library
and Archives, based at the Bronx Zoo, is proud to announce the completion of
its Shelby White and Leon Levy Film Initiative.
Sponsored by the Leon Levy Foundation, this monumental project allowed WCS to
assess and inventory more than 1,600 historical film reels. With the
digitization of nearly 100 of these reels, WCS opens a window into the past,
allowing unprecedented access to a treasure trove of zoo, aquarium, and
wildlife conservation history.
The WCS Film Collection, composed largely of 35mm reels dating back to the
early 1900s, captures pivotal scenes from WCS’s history and beyond. These
include activities at its Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium as well as early
field conservation research sponsored by the organization, which was founded in
1895 as the New York Zoological Society.
From research on Weddell seals in the icy waters of Antarctica, to the tanks
of the New York Aquarium at its original Battery Park location, from George
Schaller’s groundbreaking mountain gorilla studies in the lush forests of
Central Africa, to mid-1960s imaginings of the Bronx Zoo of the future, these
films offer glimpses into ecosystems and species that have undergone
remarkable transformations over the decades and showcase profound shifts in
the practices of zoos, aquariums, and conservation researchers.
"This is a project 100 years in the making," said Madeleine Thompson, Executive
Director of the WCS Library and Archives. "By preserving these reels created
over the course of the 20th Century and digitizing a selection of them, we are
safeguarding invaluable historical record and allowing researchers,
conservationists, educators, and the public to explore and learn from these
resources."
To explore the WCS Film Collection and access the selection of digitized films,
visit:
<
https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Archives/Digital-Collections/WCS-Film-Collection.aspx>.'
Via Esther Schindler.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
