Ronald Strahan interviewed by Diana Giese [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 2457973
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Strahan, Ronald, 1922-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2003
- 3 digital audio tapes (ca. 195 min.)
- Summary:
-
Dr Straham, a pioneer advocating zoos as cultural scientific institutions, a writer & editor of books on Australian vertebrates, the history of Australian science, the history of the Australian Museum 1827-1979, New South Wales zoos & the growth of science in Australia in the early 19th century. He speaks about his early tertiary education, graduating in Zoology from the University of Western Australia in 1947; volunteering to join the Mobile Entomological Research Unit designed to keep down insect vectors of tropical disease among troops during World War II; how by 1962 after stints at Oxford & Hong Kong & in Sweden he was recognised as a world authority on primitive fishes.
Straham speaks about being nominated by the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales to the Taronga Zoological Park Trust; becoming Director of the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales in 1967, presiding over a period of revolutionary change till 1974 when he resigned; his work in establishing the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, N.S.W.; his work as a Research Fellow with the Australian Museum; his position as Executive Officer of the National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, which documented photographs of every species & form of tetrapod vertebrate, beginning with mammals; changing functions of museums & issues in Zoology now.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on May 29, 2003 at Sydney, N.S.W.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Detailed summary (11 p.) and completed transcript (typescript, 77 leaves)
- Subject:
-
- Strahan, Ronald, 1922- -- Interviews
- Australian Museum -- History
- Taronga Zoological Park Trust (Sydney, N.S.W.)
- Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales
- Science -- Australia -- History
- Zoologists -- Australia -- Interviews
- Taronga Zoo (Sydney, N.S.W.) -- History
- Western Plains Zoo (Dubbo, N.S.W.) -- History
- Occupation:
- Zoologists
- Other authors/contributors:
- Giese, Diana, 1947-, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2073 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2003
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