The Wildlife Conservation Society Launches Digitized Department of Tropical Research Film Collection

Newswise — Bronx, New York, September 18, 2024 -- The WCS Library and Archives, based at the Bronx Zoo, released its newly digitized Department of Tropical Research (DTR) Film Collection.

The project was funded by the Council on Library and Information Resources’ (CLIR) Recordings at Risk grant, supported by the Mellon Foundation.

The project has brought 64 historical film reels to the public, capturing a unique record of WCS’s DTR expeditions from the 1920s through the 1960s. These expeditions spanned terrestrial and marine tropical regions across the globe, and the DTR were among the first Western scientists to study the interconnectedness of tropical wildlife and their habitats through close, first-hand observations.

The DTR were also noteworthy for their time, comprising both men and women, and drawing on the talents of scientists, artists, writers, and filmmakers. Their films document not only the early history of Western conservation science but also rare glimpses of landscapes, wildlife, and people local to the areas in which the DTR worked.

In their day, the DTR were well-known by many in the US: Director William Beebe’s vivid accounts of their expeditions became bestsellers, and their work was widely covered by the American press, especially during their 1930s deep-sea explorations in the Bathysphere submersible. The DTR’s influence shaped public perceptions of tropical ecosystems and also inspired now-famed scientists such as Rachel Carson, David Attenborough, and George Schaller.

Several DTR members later achieved fame in Hollywood, further extending the team’s cultural impact. Notably, Ernest Schoedsack, who served as cinematographer on the 1925 Galápagos expedition, went on to co-direct the iconic film King Kong (1933). Floyd Crosby, who shot underwater footage during the 1927 Haiti expedition, won an Academy Award for cinematography for Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931). The collection also includes rare film captured by pioneering women biologists such as Jocelyn Crane.

WCS is pleased to share this historic collection, offering an invaluable resource for researchers, educators, and the general public interested in the history of conservation and the natural world.  Visit the collection here: https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Archives/Digital-Collections/DTR-Film-Collection.aspx

About the WCS Library and Archives:
The WCS Library and Archives advances knowledge in support of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s mission to save wildlife and wild places. It provides information services to foster WCS’s leadership in science-based conservation, it preserves WCS’s robust record of activities, and it enhances understanding of WCS’s rich legacy.​ ​ 

About CLIR
The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) is an independent, nonprofit organization that forges strategies to enhance research, teaching, and learning environments in collaboration with libraries, cultural institutions, and communities of higher learning. To learn more, visit www.clir.org and follow CLIR on Facebook and Twitter.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

WCS combines the power of its zoos and an aquarium in New York City and a Global Conservation Program in more than 50 countries to achieve its mission to save wildlife and wild places. WCS runs the world’s largest conservation field program, protecting more than 50 percent of Earth’s known biodiversity; in partnership with governments, Indigenous People, Local Communities, and the private sector. It’s four zoos and aquarium (the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium ) welcome more than 3.5 million visitors each year, inspiring generations to care for nature. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org. Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: +1 (347) 840-1242. Listen to the WCS Wild Audio podcast HERE.