Title: Donald J. Meyer Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1976-2000

Creator:

• Meyer, Donald J., 1930-

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 191

Quantity: 3.4 cubic ft. (10 boxes)
Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

The collection documents Don J. Meyer's work in animal management since the 1970s. The collection contains Meyer's correspondence with zoos and other animal businesses regarding his work as a consultant, animal trainer, and animal care-giver. His business enterprise, Jo-Don Farms, Inc., located in Franksville, Wisconsin, was the focal point of his involvement in the exotic animal business. The collection also contains Meyer's general files regarding elephant and animal management, including a substantial newsclippings file about elephants. The collection also documents the emergence of Elephant Management, an organization dedicated to promoting the elephant species through a unique advantageous breeding program.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0191

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Don J. Meyer was born August 18, 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the ninth grade Meyer was pulled out of school to work in his step-father's blacksmith shop and in 1943 he started to work with animals. He shoed horses with his step-father at the Wisconsin State Fair and also worked for horse owners and polo groups in Milwaukee. Meyer married in his early twenties and later divorced. He married Joan in 1965.

Milwaukee County Zoo Director Don Speidel hired Meyer to work with an elephant named Annie in 1960. Meyer worked at the Milwaukee County Zoo for a couple of years and then moved on to the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There he worked as an elephant handler from 1962 to 1963 and then as a curator from 1963 to 1965. Meyer was an elephant consultant for many zoos across the country from the early 1960s until the early 2000s. He has worked with animals since 1943 and founded a non-traditional farm that houses exotic animals in 1975 named Jo-Don Farms, Inc.

Meyer moved back to Wisconsin in 1965 to establish "The Ranch" Zoo in Menomonee Falls. As director of The Ranch, he focused on creating a zoo for disabled individuals. Meyer worked at The Ranch until 1974 when it was closed down. Meyer's work at The Ranch grew into his business Jo-Don Farms. Founded in 1975, Jo-Don Farms located in Franksville, Wisconsin, provides professional animal services including educational and recreational animal programs, displays, and rides.

Over the years, Meyer has been an active member in the animal business and is known throughout the United States for his work with elephants. From 1963 to 2003 he was an elephant consultant for many zoos across the country. He has consulted with over 20 institutions and has worked with over 100 elephants. Meyer is a founding member of the Wisconsin Zoo Associates (WZA), an organization for zoos and other animal businesses related to the zoo business in Wisconsin. He is also a past member of the American Zoological Association.

In 1978, Meyer and others established what was known as Elephant Management. Meyer was the first president of the organization and it was located in Franksville, Wisconsin at Jo-Don Farms, Inc., but was national in scope. This was an organization that wanted to establish a breeding program called "musical elephants" that would work to improve the breeding success rates of African elephants in captivity. Musical elephants was a concept of moving breeding-age African elephants into favorable breeding arrangements. This was to be accomplished through long-term breeding loans with zoos and animal facilities across the nation. Due to lack of support and money, Elephant Management was disbanded in the early 1990s.

The collection documents Don J. Meyer's work in the animal business, particularly his work with elephants. Many of the records consist of correspondence between Meyer and zoos regarding his work with elephants.

Scope and content notes of each series are included in the contents list.

The files are arranged alphabetically, then chronologically within four series:

1. Zoos, 1976-1997
2. General Files, 1979-2000
3. Elephant Management, 1982-1993
4. Jo-Don Farms, Inc., 1976-1996

There is some overlap within the first series, Zoos, and the last two series, Elephant Management and Jo-Don Farms, Inc.

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

• Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 204.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Donald J. Meyer donated this collection to the Archives in October 2001 (accession 2001-013).

Processing Information

Christel Maass began processing this collection in 2002, and Cory Mitchell finished the processing in 2003.

	Series: 1. Zoos, 1976-1997 Scope and Content Note: This series contains Meyer's correspondence with zoos and other animal institutions with which he did business during his many years working with animals. The correspondence consists of both business and personal letters. Most of the correspondence is related to Meyer's elephant consultation at various zoos, including discussion of the treatment and training programs of the elephants. Some of the correspondence documents Meyer's personal relationships that he developed while working with the zoos. The series also contains photographs from several of the zoos where Meyer provided elephant consulting. The photographs mainly consist of pictures of elephants and people with whom he worked while doing consulting. Many files have to do with the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Box   1 Folder   1	City of Garden City, Kansas, 1986
Box   1 Folder   2	Detroit Zoological Park, 1990-1992
Box   1 Folder   3	Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, Missouri, 1978-1987
Box   1 Folder   4	Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, Missouri, Breeding Program Information, 1989
Box   1 Folder   5	Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, Missouri, Breeding Program Information, Photographs, 1989
Box   1 Folder   6	Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, Missouri, Photographs, 1983
Box   1 Folder   7	Greater Ozarks Zoological, Springfield, Missouri, 1982
Box   1 Folder   8	Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison, 1991-1995
Box   1 Folder   9	Kings Island, Ohio, 1988-1990
Box   1 Folder   10	Los Angeles Zoo, Hannibal, Elephant Death, 1992
Box   1 Folder   11-13	Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, 1981-1989
Box   2 Folder   1-6	Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, 1990-1995
Box   3 Folder   1	Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, 1996-1997
Box   3 Folder   2	Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Elephant Management, Meetings, undated
Box   3 Folder   3-4	Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Photographs, 1981-1986, undated
Box   3 Folder   5	Memphis Zoo, 1993-1994
Box   3 Folder   6-8	Milwaukee County Zoo, 1981-1988
Box   4 Folder   1-3	Milwaukee County Zoo, 1989-1999
Box   4 Folder   4	Milwaukee County Zoo, Photographs, undated
Box   4 Folder   5	National Zoo, Washington, D.C., 1976-1982
Box   4 Folder   6	National Zoo, Washington, D.C., Elephant Survey, 1991
Box   4 Folder   7	National Zoo, Washington, D.C., Photographs, undated
Box   4 Folder   8	Niabi Zoo, Coal Valley, Illinois, 1985-1995
Box   4 Folder   9-10	Racine Zoo, 1986-1987
Box   4 Folder   11	Racine Zoo, 1993
Box   4 Folder   12	Riddle's Elephant Breeding Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary, 1990-1991, 1997
Box   4 Folder   13	Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1980-1992
Box   4 Folder   14	Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Photographs, 1977
Box   4 Folder   15	San Diego Wildlife Park, 1987-1990
Box   4 Folder   16	San Diego Wildlife Park, Photographs, 1988
Box   4 Folder   17	San Francisco Zoo, 1988-1989
Box   5 Folder   1-6	Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, New York, 1979-1995
Box   5 Folder   7	Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, New York, Project ADEPT, School Program, 1991
Box   5 Folder   8	Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, New York, Project ADEPT, School Program, Photographs, 1991
Box   6 Folder   1	Topeka Zoological Park, 1983-1990
Box   6 Folder   2	Tulsa Zoological Park, 1980-1987
Box   6 Folder   3	Tulsa Zoological Park, Photographs, 1986
Box   6 Folder   4	Virginia Zoo, Norfolk, Virginia, 1977-1981
Box   6 Folder   5-7	Virginia Zoo, Norfolk, Virginia, 1986-1995
Box   6 Folder   8	Virginia Zoo, Norfolk, Virginia, Photographs, 1978-1987
Box   6 Folder   9	Washington Park Zoo, Michigan City, Indiana, 1982-1983
Box   6 Folder   10	Washington Park Zoo, Michigan City, Indiana, Photographs, 1982-1983
	Series: 2. General Files, 1979-2000 Scope and Content Note: This series consists of a mixture of files dealing with animal and elephant management. The files contain copies of several elephant-related newsletters including the Elephant Manager's Association newsletter and the Hasti newsletter. The series also contains several scholarly papers about elephants including a history of elephants in the Ringling Brother's Circus. Many files describe the Elephant Workshops in which Meyer participated over the years. Elephant Workshops were annual gatherings where professionals would meet and discuss elephant management issues. The series also has a large newsclippings file that contains various elephant-related newspaper articles from around the United States. The series includes some photographs of elephants, as well as photographs of elephant training equipment, including elephant ankuses, stands, and pallets. The series also contains a file related to the Lota elephant controversy that occurred at the Milwaukee County Zoo and gained national attention.	⇧
Box   7 Folder   1	Animal Education Protection and Information Foundation, Correspondence, 1991-1994
Box   7 Folder   2	Elephant Abuse Law, Section 596.5 to the Penal Code, California, 1989
Box   7 Folder   3	Elephant Equipment, 1987, undated
Box   7 Folder   4	Elephant Equipment, Photographs, undated
Box   7 Folder   5	Elephant Interest Group, 1984
Box   7 Folder   6	Elephant Manager's Association, 1988-1991
Box   7 Folder   7	Elephant Manager's Association, Ethics Board, 1997
Box   7 Folder   8	Elephant Manager's Association, Newsletter, 1989-1990
Box   7 Folder   9	Elephant Pallets and Elephant Stands, 1986-1987
Box   7 Folder   10	Elephant Pallets and Elephant Stands, Photographs, 1987
Box   7 Folder   11	Elephant, Photographs, undated
Box   7 Folder   12	Elephant Training, 1981
Box   7 Folder   13	Elephant Workshop, 1st Annual, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1980
Box   7 Folder   14	Elephant Workshop, 3rd Annual, Springfield, Missouri, 1982
Box   7 Folder   15	Elephant Workshop, 4th Annual, Kansas City, 1983
Box   7 Folder   16	Elephant Workshop, 9th Annual, Jacksonville, Florida, 1988
Box   7 Folder   17	Elephant Workshop, 10th Annual, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1989
Box   7 Folder   18	Elephant Workshop, 11th Annual, Milwaukee, 1990
Box   7 Folder   19	Elephants, Reference Materials, 1990, undated
Box   7 Folder   20	Hasti, Newsletter, 1986-1987, 1989-1990
Box   7 Folder   21	Humane Society of the United States, American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, Guidelines, Elephants, Washington, D.C., 1991
Box   7 Folder   22	International Species Inventory System, 1982
Box   7 Folder   23	Lota Controversy, 1990-1991
Box   7 Folder   24	Miscellaneous, Photographs, undated
Box   7 Folder   25	Narrating Captivity, Nigel Rothfels, 1999
Box   8 Folder   1	Newsclippings, 1979-1988
Box   8 Folder   2	Newsclippings, 1992-2000
Box   8 Folder   3	Newsclippings, undated
Box   8 Folder   4	Ringling Elephant History: The First Fifty Years, Raymond Moreau, 1990
Box   8 Folder   5	Species Survival Program, Application Materials, 1991-1997
Box   8 Folder   6	Twilight of the Elephant, James Orgill, 1983
	Series: 3. Elephant Management, 1982-1993 Scope and Content Note: This series contains records from the elephant management organization that Meyer helped found in 1978. Elephant Management was based in Franksville, Wisconsin. The series includes board minutes for 1982 and 1993, a list of the 1982-1983 board of directors, contracts and historical information, correspondence, and photographs. The board minutes document the administration of the Elephant Management organization. Most of the letters consist of correspondence between Meyer and other members of Elephant Management, documenting the organization's administration, including the direction of the organization, potential breeding arrangements, and African elephant acquisition. Photographs in the series are from the first Elephant Management meeting in 1982, showing Don Meyer and some of the other founding members.	⇧
Box   9 Folder   1	Advertisements, Mailer, 1990
Box   9 Folder   2	Board Minutes and Diary, 1982
Box   9 Folder   3	Board of Directors, 1982-1983
Box   9 Folder   4	Contracts and Historical Information, undated
Box   9 Folder   5-6	Correspondence, 1982-1993
Box   9 Folder   7	Letterhead, undated
Box   9 Folder   8	Minutes, 1993
Box   9 Folder   9	Photographs, 1982
	Series: 4. Jo-Don Farms, Inc., 1976-1996 Scope and Content Note: This series consists of the records from Don Meyer's exotic animal farm that he founded in 1975 in Franksville, Wisconsin. The series contains correspondence, photographs, pamphlets of the farm, and resumes of people who worked at Jo-Don Farms, Inc. Some of the photographs are of Meyer with elephants, others are of various other animals from the farm.	⇧
Box   10 Folder   1	Correspondence, 1976-1996
Box   10 Folder   2	Pamphlets, undated
Box   10 Folder   3	Photographs, 1982
Box   10 Folder   4	Photographs, 1996
Box   10 Folder   5	Resumes, undated
Box   10 Folder   6	Rules and Regulations, undated