Reference Request
Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Accession 14-213
Kleiman, Devra G.
Devra G. Kleiman Papers, 1962-2009, 2013
Descriptive Entry
This accession consists of materials documenting the research and professional activities of conservation biologist Devra G. Kleiman, 1942-2010. Kleiman received her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago in 1964 and her doctorate from the University of London in 1969. In 1972, she became one of the first female scientists at the National Zoological Park (NZP) where she was hired to manage the zoo's captive breeding program. In 1982, Kleiman became Acting Assistant Director for Animal Programs in the Office of Animal Programs, assuming the position permanently the following year. During a series of reorganizations, Kleiman became the Assistant Director of Zoological Research and Education in 1984; the Assistant Director of Research in 1985; and the Assistant Director of Zoological Research heading the Department of Zoological Research in 1996. In 1997, Kleiman assumed the position of Senior Scientist. After her retirement in 2001, Kleiman served as Senior Scientist Emeritus at NZP, taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland at College Park, and owned a consulting company, Zoo-Logic, LLC. During her career, Kleiman helped establish the Associacao Mico-Leao-Dourado, a Brazilian non-governmental association for the conservation of golden lion tamarins; served on many international committees, working groups, and task forces for species conservation; and was affiliated with numerous non-profit conservation organizations. Much of Kleiman's research and activities focused on the reintroduction of golden lion tamarins to the wild and the captive breeding of giant pandas. Particularly well-documented in this collection are Kleiman's research trips, especially to China; publicity related to her research; and preparations for publishing two books, "Wild Mammals in Captivity: Principles and Techniques" (1996) and "Lion Tamarins: Biology and Conservation" (2002). One folder documents a memorial fund set up after Kleiman's death. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, clippings, presentations, reports, meeting materials, images, field books, notes, postcards, greeting cards, a scrapbook, a videotape, ephemera, awards, collected artistic drawings, and related materials. Some materials are in electronic format.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado
- Kleiman, Devra G.
- Lion tamarins: biology and conservation (Monograph). 2002
- National Zoological Park (U.S.)
- National Zoological Park (U.S.). Department of Zoological Research
- National Zoological Park (U.S.). Office of Animal Programs
- University of Maryland at College Park
- Wild mammals in captivity: principles and techniques (Monograph). 1996
- Zoo-Logic, LLC
Subject
- Animal behavior
- Animal breeding
- China
- Conservation biology
- Giant panda
- Golden lion tamarin
- Professional associations
- Research
- Wildlife conservation
- Wildlife reintroduction
- Women scientists
- Zoo animals
- Zoologists
- Zoology
- Zoos
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 14-213, Devra G. Kleiman Papers