Bronx Zoo Archives: History Retold...

               In the heart of Astor court lies one of the many historic buildings from when the zoo was first founded 1895. Right next to the sea lion pool is the archives and administration building, It may not look like much from the outside, but I can assure you that once you enter, it will leave a long lasting impression. Now what's so special about being at the archives? Well for me it was like taking a trip back to the past and exploring what went on in the 60's, 70's, 80's, all the way up to our current time. But before you jump in, there are certain passwords and codes that must be given.

              Like any Hidden vault or center for information, you need clearance to get in. The archives were no different. I can't express how entertaining it was to come every morning and punch in the secret code to gain access. I felt like I was in a top secret government facility. The location of the numbers do change so you do have to be on point. Once access is granted, you make your way down the hall, making sure you tread lightly. You don't want to interrupt the president or the board members when they're at a meeting. As you make your way down the stairs, you find a room full of files, folders, and boxes as far as the eye can see. Once there, that's when the magic happens. There are countless files that contain all aspects of zoo life right down to what was being ordered in 1965 to when and where the ticket booths were placed in 1990.

              My task was to categorize and add the files of Dr. John Behler who served as the Zoos Curator of the Herpetology Department until his passing in 2006. His collection contained 32 boxes full of his rich history and various accomplishments both as working in the zoo and his international work as a Herpetologist and conservationist. Now the day in the life of a zoo curator is not all pushing papers as you might think. I can assure you there were plenty of "Distractions" to the paper work. From meeting the Asian ambassador to getting the wrong magazine subscription in the mail, its a busy life. Going through his files, you can see the changes he brought about and some decisions that led to many great things.

             It's not all fun and games when being in the archives. It takes some up keep as well.
As you may well know dust is one thing we cannot escape, no matter how hard you try it always finds a place, and the archives are no different. Twice a year, we clean all the files folders and boxes to reduce dust or mold and to prevent anything from compromising the information. I went on a journey - cleaning through Mammalogy, then back tracking to animal behavior, then finishing up on the old zoo education planners. In all, it is a very enjoyable place to be and was a worthwhile experience.

            Being in the archives, I learned about the rich history of the Zoo and all its accomplishments. As you look through the files, you see everything put together in front of you, including things like a very strange plan by the people to petition the zoo for signatures to pass a law that would allow them to release snakes of all kind into the streets to control the growing rat population. Thankfully, this was turned down. Working here really opened my eyes to different careers that were not solely focused on animals and in my opinion are just as fun as those that are. Well that's my journey through the archives so I welcome all of you to come to the zoo and look around for yourself. You never know if one day you might have a file or two of your own someday.

                                                        ~Brenden Alvarez