ZSL (Zoological Society of London) – the conservation charity behind London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo – is launching History Hive: a public appeal for memories and artefacts to bring its 200-year history to life.
Launching exactly two years before the world-famous institution’s bicentenary, History Hive aims to build a collection of memories – from the tangible to the intangible – to reflect the varied voices and lived experiences of everyone who has played a part in ZSL’s rich history.
ZSL is asking the public to submit everything from vintage zoo toys and historic tickets to correspondence and maps, enriching the charity’s understanding of its own history.
Launching exactly two years before the world-famous institution’s bicentenary, History Hive aims to build a collection of memories – from the tangible to the intangible – to reflect the varied voices and lived experiences of everyone who has played a part in ZSL’s rich history.
ZSL is asking the public to submit everything from vintage zoo toys and historic tickets to correspondence and maps, enriching the charity’s understanding of its own history.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 ZSL will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2026, giving us two years to count down to
00:11 this really important moment in our history. To mark that countdown, we're launching
00:16 the ZSL History Hive, which is asking the public to contribute stories and artefacts
00:21 to help us bring our history to life in 2026. Since being founded for the advancement of
00:26 zoological science in 1826, we've brought people closer to nature through our two conservation
00:32 zoos, we've led the way in scientific research at our Institute of Zoology, and we've expanded
00:38 our conservation work across the world. ZSL's archive dates back to 1826 when ZSL
00:44 was founded. It's primarily an institutional archive and it's one of the largest zoological
00:49 collections in the world. Some of the gems that we have include a small soap of baby
00:55 Brimus that was produced when he was born in 1949, an ostrich egg that details a map
01:00 of Whipsnade Zoo. We have a first edition origin of species, and we have a range of
01:05 admission tickets, zoo uniforms, a wide range of zoological ephemera.
01:10 Everyone who has a connection to ZSL, from world-renowned biologists to TV broadcasters
01:15 and visitors to our two zoos, London and Whipsnade, they're all part of our history and it's
01:20 only right that we celebrate together. We're asking them to share objects, memories and
01:24 artefacts, things like memorabilia from zoo visits, correspondence, and they can even
01:30 sign up to be part of a new oral archive. Everything will really help us share our story
01:35 and bring that incredible history to life. By organising this oral history archive, we
01:40 can reach out to former and current members of staff, visitors, volunteers, community
01:46 groups who can tell how they are connected to ZSL.
01:49 People can submit to the ZSL History Hive by going to our website, zsl.org/historyhive,
01:55 and filling out a simple form. Objects, images and memories that we receive will help us
02:01 really bring our history to life in 2026 and will form part of an exhibition that we'll
02:05 be putting on that year to mark our history. ZSL's archive dates back to 1826 when ZSL
02:11 was founded. It's primarily an institutional archive and it's one of the largest zoological
02:17 collections in the world. Some of the gems that we have include a small
02:22 soap of baby Brimus that was produced when he was born in 1949, an ostrich egg that details
02:28 a map of Whipsnade Zoo that sat on the desk of the superintendent. We have a first edition
02:33 Origin of Species and we have a range of admission tickets to zoo uniforms, a wide range of zoological
02:39 ephemera. With the History Hive, the public can really
02:42 help enrich our understanding of our own history. We are looking for anything that tells a story,
02:48 be it admission tickets, a piece of zoo memorabilia perhaps, or a personal story. Written documents,
02:55 as valuable as they are, only tell history from the perspectives of a few people. By
03:01 organising this oral history archive, we can reach out to former and current members of
03:06 the ZSL, visitors, volunteers, community groups who can tell how they are connected to ZSL.
03:11 As well as being a conservation charity, we are also a cultural institution, part of the
03:17 fabric of this country with connections spread across the world.