WCS Film Collection

Footage of unidentified men on a hunting trip. Shots of men skinning animals, wooded mountains, man cleaning gun around a campfire, and a snowball fight. The provenance of this film or why WCS would have it in its collection is unknown.

Film by Paul J. Rainey, believed to be taken during his 1910 Arctic expedition. Shots include a polar bear running on the ice from an approaching boat, close up shots of hunting boats sailing through ice floes, spearing walruses in the water, shots of musk oxen on a prairie with herding dogs, women skinning animals on the deck of a boat.

"Illustrated by systematic records from the collections of the New York Zoological Society"--Film credits. "Chapter XVII Marsupials Continued and The Egg-Laying Mammals"--Film titles. Footage of animals interspersed with titles.

"Preparing for the tortoise commissary. Mr. Astor cutting the leaves from a cactus; the favored tortoise diet. On a sand-covered reef between Indefatigable and Seymour, near Nourmahal Anchorage, Mr. Astor captured his sea lions. Scores of sea lions frequented this ledge, swimming with easy grace in the furious seas that swept the weather side. Post Office Bay, Charles Island, the beacon light of gas tanks, a typical Galapagos landscape with the dwelling of the departed Norwegians, and views of the snug harbor"--Film intertitles.

"A Day at the Zoo. As told by John Kieran a New York Zoological Society member. Photographed and arranged by Stacy Woodard the photographer of The River, Chico, and other nature films"--Film credits.

Edited compilation film shot in the Bronx Zoo; shots include entrance sign, and a variety of animals in their exhibits. "Photographed by Chas. E. Roehm"--Film credits.

Edited compilation film shot in the Bronx Zoo; shots include pandas, hippos, prairie dogs, kangaroos, ostriches, giant pandas, lions, and many other animals on exhibit, as well as elephants bathing in the Bronx River. Also includes Rocking Stone and related signage and shots of visitors. "Photographed by Chas. E. Roehm"--Film credits.

Incomplete version of film highlighting the yearly exhibits at the New York Aquarium at Battery Park, including the Aquarium's display at the World's Fair. "Three special exhibits through the year"-- Film credits. Exhibits include manatees and penguins at the World's Fair. Film abruptly ends after penguin segment.

Macro-photography footage of insects in exhibits and in a research facility. "Under the curatorship of Dr. Raymond L. Ditmars a new comprehensive insect exhibit will be inaugurated at the Bronx Zoo in 1941"--Film credits.

Footage of John Tee-Van's travels in China to collect two young panda bears gifted to the Bronx Zoo by Madame Chiang Kai-Shek. Shots include pandas traveling in rickshaw crates, boarding a plane, and arriving at the Bronx Zoo.

Travelogue featuring New York Aquarium researchers and others studying rare blind fish. "In 1936 a new kind of blind cavefish was reported in Mexico. Little was known about it aside from the fact that it lived inside a warm water cave. We set out to learn what we could as the natural occurrence of an eyeless condition is always of considerable scientific interest. The party was made up as follows: Dr. C.M. Breder, Jr.; Mr. Ralph Friedman; Mr. William Bridges; Señor Coronado; Dr. E.B. Gresser; Mr. M.B. Bishop; Mr. S.C. Dunton; Señor Ramon Aguilar"--Film credits.

Black and white version of NYZS film showcasing the Bronx Zoo's Farm in the Zoo exhibit. "Cast Joe Kane, Mrs. Kane, Bobby Kane, Lloyd Van Cook; from Parkchester Housing Community: Peter Sheridan, Arthur Molloy, Jimmie Fllipone, Playground Children. Photographed by Sam Dunton. Narration by John Reed King"--Film credits.

Child members of the American Junior Red Cross and Bronx Zoo staff members holding baby animals for a Red Cross event inside the Bronx Zoo's Administration building. Film also includes American Junior Red Cross members with baby animals and Helen Martini.

Early high-speed motion picture study of a hummingbird. "One Second in the Life of a Hummingbird. As seen by the high-speed motion picture camera of the New York Zoological Society. By Henry M. Lester"--Film credits.

Establishing shots of a variety of Bronx Zoo exhibits and animals, including the African Plains, the Lion House, giant panda exhibit, Children's Zoo. Also includes footage of the zoo shuttle, Bronx River waterfall, Rainey Gates, parking lot, riding animals. Also footage depicting the transport of African elephants from the British Congo and their arrival at the Bronx Zoo's Elephant House with a press event.