Page 9 - CZS Employee Handbook
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History and Heritage
The Chicago Zoological Society is almost 100 years old and director of the Boston Zoological
has a rich history and heritage. In 1919, an extraordinary Garden; he was 38 years old,
woman, Edith Rockefeller McCormick, made Brookfield married, with two children. He
Zoo possible when she donated 83 acres of land to the started on January 1, 1923, at an
Forest Preserves of Cook County to create a large, modern annual salary of $5,000.
zoo. Mrs. McCormick was the daughter of a wealthy A contract was developed between the
industrialist, John D. Rockefeller, and the wife of agricultur- Chicago Zoological Society and the Forest Preserves of Cook
al machinery manufacturer Harold F. McCormick. Mrs. County (FPCC). The Society manages Brookfield Zoo under
Rockefeller was a woman of great wealth and the grande a long-term agreement with the Forest Preserves. The FPCC
dame of Chicago. owns the land and buildings and was to pay for the con-
The Chicago Zoological Society was chartered in 1921. struction and maintenance of Brookfield Zoo buildings from
Just four days later, at the first regular meeting of the its tax revenues, with the Society responsible for the purchase
trustees, the following mission was set forth as part of its and care of the animals. This agreement continues today, and
original charter: the Society continues to receive a portion of its funding from
“The foundation, maintenance, and control of the the FPCC. Construction began in 1927, with the first few
zoological parks or gardens and other collections; the buildings at the South Gate, the Administration Building,
promotion of zoology and kindred subjects; the instruction Powerhouse, and Reptile House, which was the Society’s first
and recreation of the people; the collection, holding and animal building. Construction continued rapidly in 1928,
expenditure of funds for zoological research and publica- including contracts for the Small Mammal House, Bird
tion; the protection of wildlife and kindred purposes.” House, the Animal Commissary, and the Bear Dens. The zoo
Mr. John Tinney McCutcheon, a Chicago Tribune artist officially opened its doors in June 1934. Since that time, the
and cartoonist, was named as the Society’s first president. Society has continued to grow through the generous support
Twenty-five trustees, who were influential movers and of the public, private donors, the government, zoo members,
shakers in the city’s affairs, were elected. The first 49 and others.
governing members were elected in 1922, and the list read We strive to provide people of all ages and backgrounds
like a “Who’s Who in Chicago” for that time. In 1922, a with opportunities to learn about and care for animals and
committee was named to tour zoos in London, Rotterdam, the natural world. When Brookfield Zoo first opened, it was
Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich, considered “cutting edge” for its bar less animal enclosures.
among others. Emmett Flavin, the chief engineer, worked One of the first zoos to employ nutritionists, pathologists,
with the Hagenbeck brothers in Hamburg, Germany, to veterinarians, geneticists, endocrinologists, and behavioral
draw up the design for Brookfield Zoo. The official ground- specialists, we continue this tradition of cutting-edge animal
breaking ceremony was held in October 1922. care, exhibitry, discovery, science, research, community pro-
In 1923, the Board decided it needed a manager to run grams, education, and innovation.
the affairs of the Chicago Zoological Society. The Society
selected George Frederick Morse, who, at the time, was the
Introduction 7
