Beyond the Bars of the London Zoo: Curating, Collecting, and Classifying Animals at the Zoological Society of London, ca. 1847-1903

Abstract

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and its gardens, better known as London Zoo, is one of the oldest modern zoos in the world. Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London played a significant part in the development of scientific research during the nineteenth century – and has continued to do so today. At first a private ‘garden’, London Zoo officially established in 1828) eventually opened to the general public in 1847, which, at the behest of the society’s newly elected secretary, David William Mitchell, completely transformed the gardens’ appeal. From then on, the Society’s outlook changed, accelerating the commodification of zoological recreations in the gardens’ space. In order to sustain this collection, however, the Society relied on a variety of benefactors, which, as the century progressed, became increasingly associated with the British Empire. These factors had a profound impact on the development of the ZSL, affecting the way the Society portrayed its animals in the gardens. This thesis examines the development of the Zoological Society of London and its gardens in the second half of the nineteenth century, exploring how the ZSL shaped (western) understandings of the natural world. Central to this study are three historical discussions, the nature of science, the animals’ place in historical studies, and the global imperial context in zoo histories, which collectively address key components of the ZSL’s history. All three themes speak to how the ZSL curated, collected, and classified its animals, which, in turn, influenced understandings of the natural world. As a site for animal encounters, the zoo was all at once a place of scientific endeavour, popular entertainment, and imperial experiences. The thesis will therefore slither, fly, and gallop beyond the enclosure - space, examining five animal species - hummingbirds, hippopotamuses, elephants, giraffes, and okapis – to uncover how the Zoological Society of London influenced (and ultimately continues to influence) perceptions of the natural world.