Devra Kleiman - Data protocols notebook, 1984

What is it like to work as a conservation biologist at a large zoo? Dr. Devra Kleiman's 1984 notes about protocols give us good insight into her everyday routines and administrative tasks. She records how long one should observe an animal and how their behaviors should be coded. According to Kleiman's protocols, observers should record the animal's body orientation, activity (whether locomotive or inactive), location, and the ways in which they eat. Other interesting codes include those for how animals interacted with each other. For instance, if they fought, the recorder should write "F." Help us in transcribing Kleiman's notes to better understand her success in protecting the Smithsonian National Zoo's inhabitants. For more information, check out the finding aid.