Research Photographs, Scripts and Other Records [Department of Zoology] (Series 325)

This series originated from the Department of Zoology and comprises items from different sources within the Department. These include:

- A notebook, signed and dated by Stephen Jason (SJ) Johnston from the Department of Biology, almost entirely consisting of a list of publications dating from 1879 to 1905, particularly on reptilian embryology. Johnston (1874-1922) BA 1894, BSc 1912, DSc 1912 was initially appointed to the University as acting demonstrator in Biology in 1906 [Senate Minutes, G1/1/12, p 82] and demonstrator from 1 Jan 1907 [Senate Minutes G1/1/12, p 210]. In 1917, Johnston succeeded William Aitcheson (WA) Haswell as the Challis Professor of Zoology, however, he suffered from poor health and took leave from 1920 [Senate Minutes 1917 and 1920: G1/1/14, pp 470, 479 and G1/1/15, p 427];

- Professor of Biology, William John (WJ) Dakin's photographic negatives, many dated and identified, of the Biological Research Station on South Head Military Reserve, the research vessel "Thistle", and scenes on the islands of the Barrier Reef (1935), Norfolk Island (1932) and locations in NSW in the early 1930s;

- A copy of a letter referring to the BANZARE plankton collection (1936);

- A proof copy, dated 1952, of "Australian Seashores" by Isobel Bennett (photographs and figures) and miscellaneous papers pertaining to plankton catches. Plankton catch data dated 1932 to 1934 is documented in the record book in Series 331. Bennett was appointed secretary to Dakin in 1933, and worked as his research assistant. After Dakin's retirement, she continued with research on intertidal fauna. In 1962, she was awarded the degree of Master of Science honoris causa. Marine zoological research commenced with the foundation Professor of Biology, Haswell. Up to the time of his retirement in 1917, Haswell devoted considerable energy trying, unsuccessfully, to establish a biology station on the shores of Sydney Harbour after the Sydney Biological Station, built in the early 1880s at Watson's Bay, was resumed by the Government for defence purposes (see Series 606 for records of the Sydney Biological Station Trust). In 1907, the government's Department of Fisheries had offered the University facilities for, "carrying out investigations in connection with Marine Biology at the Gunnamatta Bay Hatchery" [G1/1/12 p. 278]. In 1931, Dakin acquired a yacht "Thistle" for marine research and a laboratory was erected at South Head on land leased from the Department of Defence; the building was dismantled in 1949 owing to difficulties facing students crossing military property [G3/13/3337]. In 1946, the University signed a six-month lease on Dakin's cottage at Bayview, Pittwater to serve as, "a marine biological station for research workers from the Zoology department". [G3/158: personnel file].