HERBERT S. ZIM PAPERS

de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
The University of Southern Mississippi

	Creator:	Dr. Herbert Spencer Zim
	Title:	Herbert S. Zim Papers
	Dates:	1952-1992
	Dates:	[bulk 1952-1975]
	Quantity:	4.35 cubic feet (16 boxes)
	Identification:	DG1086

Biographical Note

Herbert S. Zim, a naturalist and teacher, was born in 1909 in New York City, but spent most of his childhood in Southern California. He returned east at the age of fourteen and finished his education in New York, eventually holding B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University.

Zim spent thirty years teaching science and science education in New York and Illinois. He developed the first elementary science laboratories, served on national science committees, and participated in scientific and educational organizations. A man of many interests, Zim wrote or edited more than one hundred science books in his lifetime on topics as diverse as nature, machinery, and secret codes. Realizing a need for pocket-sized nature guides, Zim originated the highly successful Golden Guides series in 1945, and operated as its editor-in-chief for more than twenty years.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream of early retirement, Zim and his first wife, author/anthropologist Sonia (Sonnie) Bleeker, moved to Florida in the 1960s where he continued to work out of an office in his guesthouse. So successful were the Golden Guides, many selling in the millions, that Zim eventually recruited other experts to do most of the writing, while he worked as editor. The books are still widely used for their clear, knowledgeable presentation of complex information.

Zim slowed down with the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the 1990s. He died at home in Florida in 1994, at the age of 85, survived by two sons and his second wife, Grace Showe.

Sources:
Major Authors and Illustrators, pp. 2546-2550
Children's Books and Their Creators, pp. 709-10

Scope and Content Note

The Herbert S. Zim Papers contain typescripts, galleys, dummies, and correspondence for thirteen books written or edited by Herbert Zim between 1952 and 1976. The papers are organized into three series: books written by Zim, books edited by Zim, and letters sent to the de Grummond Collection.

The author series contains typescripts, galleys, proofs, dummies, and correspondence related to ten books written between 1952 and 1976. The books are arranged alphabetically by title and chronologically in order of creation where known. The editor series contains production materials for three Golden Guide books created between 1963 and 1969. They are arranged alphabetically by title and the material for each book is arranged chronologically in order of creation where known.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Use

Noncirculating; available for research.

Copyright Restrictions

The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study, scholarship, or research." It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials, other than that noted above.

Related Material

Illustrations for three Zim books not represented in these papers are found in the Lee J. Ames Papers (DG0022). For illustrations by Zim's first wife, Sonia Bleeker, see the Sonia Bleeker Papers (DG0098).

Original illustrations for Crabs, Snails, and Your Brain and How It Works transferred to René Martin Papers (DG1237); original illustrations for Golden Hamsters and What's Inside of Me transferred to Herschel Wartik Papers (DG1236); original illustrations for The Universe transferred to Gustav Schrotter Papers (DG1238); original illustrations for Exotic Plants transferred to Richard E. Younger Papers (DG1240); original illustrations for Spiders and Their Kin transferred to Nicholas Strekalovsky Papers (DG1239)

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Herbert S. Zim Papers, de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.

Provenance

These papers were donated to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection of the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries by Herbert S. Zim and his son, Roger S. Zim, in 1978.

Processing Information

Processed by C. Alder, November 2001. Encoded into EAD Version 1.0 by Danielle L. Bishop. This finding aid is the product of a grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Container Listing

Contact:
The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive, #5148
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-4349
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