Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
Level of description
Extent and medium
103 BW photos plus 18 oversize BW photos in cardboard frames
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Eric Fyfe Kirkland, FRPS (1898-1981) attended Birkenhead School, served in the Army during World War I, and spent his working life as a dentist after qualifying in dentistry at Liverpool University.
He took up photography seriously in the 1950s, specialising first in architecture and then in portraits of animals at Chester Zoo.
His zoo photographs were taken between 1957 and 1974, mostly on term-time Wednesdays with an Agiflex II single lens reflex camera, with lighting for interior shots supplied by two Braun electronic flash units. In cold weather his favourite location was the monkey house.
The exceptional quality of his work resulted in the rare distinction of him being elected to two separate Royal Photographic Society fellowships: architecture and natural history.
He was elected an honorary member of the North of England Zoological Society in 1964, and continued taking photographs at Chester Zoo until suffering a stroke in 1974.
He died seven years later and was survived by his wife, Winifred, who kindly gave many of his photographs to Chester Zoo and authorised the publication of the book - edited by members of the Zoo Council - from which this information is taken (2 copies of which are located in CZ158):
Cooke, D.A.P./Dixon, J.P., "Kirkland's Animals: A Collection of Eric Kirkland's Studies from Chester Zoo" (Chester: North of England Zoological Society, 1988), ISBN 1 871271 01 0. Price when published: £4.50.
An item about the book, headed "Tribute to Kirkland", appears on page 2 of "Chester Zoo News",1989.