THRIVING IN THE WILD The Evolution of the Little Rock Zoo University of Arkansas at Little Rock Masters of Arts Seminar in Public History Fall 2015 A History of the Little Rock Zoo Faculty of Record: Deborah J. Baldwin, Ph.D. HISTORY FOR THE FUTURE, INC. Mission Statement To provide engaging experiences that inspire people to value and conserve our natural world. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 9 A Zoo is Born ........................................................................................................................... 12 Founding of Fair Park ............................................................................................................ 13 Building a Zoo ....................................................................................................................... 15 A New Deal for the Zoo ........................................................................................................ 24 War Rations and Recovery .................................................................................................... 28 Mid-Century at the Zoo .......................................................................................................... 32 Changing Times .................................................................................................................... 32 Running a Zoo ....................................................................................................................... 34 Building Professional Methods ............................................................................................. 38 Changing the Way Zoos Care ................................................................................................ 41 Funding Opportunities, Old and New ................................................................................... 43 Building on the Past .............................................................................................................. 47 Changing the Way We Care for Zoo Animals ...................................................................... 50 Bringing Down the Bars .......................................................................................................... 55 Developing Community Connections ................................................................................... 55 Planning for a Better Zoo ...................................................................................................... 59 Building a Better Zoo, Inside and Out ................................................................................... 64 Zoological Programs ............................................................................................................. 72 Survival of the Fittest .............................................................................................................. 77 Rising Up in Little Rock........................................................................................................ 77 Making Changes .................................................................................................................... 80 Living for the City ................................................................................................................. 82 Arranging Habitats ................................................................................................................ 86 Taking Action ........................................................................................................................ 88 Moving Forward .................................................................................................................... 91 A Zoo for the Future ............................................................................................................... 97 Plans for Conservation and Education ................................................................................ 101 Working with the City of Little Rock .................................................................................. 106 Zoo Improvements .............................................................................................................. 109 Animal Exhibits ................................................................................................................... 113 Creating a Brighter Future ................................................................................................... 114 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 123 Literature Review .................................................................................................................. 126 Archival Recommendations .................................................................................................. 130 Paper .................................................................................................................................... 131 Photographs, Photographic Negatives, Slides ..................................................................... 131 Scrapbooks .......................................................................................................................... 132 VHS Tapes .......................................................................................................................... 132 Digital Files ......................................................................................................................... 133 Resources ............................................................................................................................. 133 For digitization services: ..................................................................................................... 133 For archival standards and best practices: ........................................................................... 133 2 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 134 Organizational Timeline ....................................................................................................... 149 Zoo Directors, 1926 to the present ....................................................................................... 157 Frank N. (Nelse) Taggart, 1926 ........................................................................................... 157 M. W. (Willie) Gray, 1927-1931 ......................................................................................... 157 William R. (Bill) Sprott, 1931-1944 .................................................................................... 157 Edward (Ed) Hefele, 1941-1944 .......................................................................................... 158 Raymond Gray, 1948-1953 ................................................................................................. 158 Raymond Squires, 1953-1975 ............................................................................................. 159 Charles Wilson, 1975-1977 ................................................................................................. 159 C.B. (Birdog) Rogers, 1977-1978 ....................................................................................... 159 Robert (Bob) Cooper, 1977-1984 ........................................................................................ 160 David Westbrook, 1984-1999 ............................................................................................. 160 Michael (Mike) Blakely, 1999- ........................................................................................... 161 Animal Appendix ................................................................................................................... 163 Nero the lion ........................................................................................................................ 163 Ruth the elephant ................................................................................................................. 164 Ellen the elephant ................................................................................................................ 165 Big Arkie the alligator ......................................................................................................... 166 Snortin’ Norton and Thor the sloth bears ............................................................................ 167 Trudy the gorilla .................................................................................................................. 168 Fossey the gorilla ................................................................................................................. 169 Over-the-Jumps Carousel ..................................................................................................... 170 Programs That Shaped the Little Rock Zoo ....................................................................... 180 Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) ........................................................................ 180 Species Survival Plan (SSP) ................................................................................................ 180 Saving Animals from Extinction