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.

City of Garden City, Kansas, 1986

Detroit Zoological Park, 1990-1992

Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, Missouri, 1978-1987

Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, Missouri, Breeding Program Information, 1989

Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, Missouri, Breeding Program Information, Photographs, 1989

Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, Missouri, Photographs, 1983

Greater Ozarks Zoological, Springfield, Missouri, 1982

Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison, 1991-1995

Kings Island, Ohio, 1988-1990

Los Angeles Zoo, Hannibal, Elephant Death, 1992

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, 1981-1989

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, 1990-1995

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, 1996-1997

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Elephant Management, Meetings, undated

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Photographs, 1981-1986, undated

Memphis Zoo, 1993-1994

Milwaukee County Zoo, 1981-1988

Milwaukee County Zoo, 1989-1999

Milwaukee County Zoo, Photographs, undated

National Zoo, Washington, D.C., 1976-1982

National Zoo, Washington, D.C., Elephant Survey, 1991

National Zoo, Washington, D.C., Photographs, undated

Niabi Zoo, Coal Valley, Illinois, 1985-1995

Racine Zoo, 1986-1987

Racine Zoo, 1993

Riddle's Elephant Breeding Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary, 1990-1991, 1997

Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1980-1992

Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Photographs, 1977

San Diego Wildlife Park, 1987-1990

San Diego Wildlife Park, Photographs, 1988

San Francisco Zoo, 1988-1989

Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, New York, 1979-1995

Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, New York, Project ADEPT, School Program, 1991

Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, New York, Project ADEPT, School Program, Photographs, 1991

Topeka Zoological Park, 1983-1990

Tulsa Zoological Park, 1980-1987

Tulsa Zoological Park, Photographs, 1986

Virginia Zoo, Norfolk, Virginia, 1977-1981

Virginia Zoo, Norfolk, Virginia, 1986-1995

Virginia Zoo, Norfolk, Virginia, Photographs, 1978-1987

Washington Park Zoo, Michigan City, Indiana, 1982-1983

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.

Animal Education Protection and Information Foundation, Correspondence, 1991-1994

Elephant Abuse Law, Section 596.5 to the Penal Code, California, 1989

Elephant Equipment, 1987, undated

Elephant Equipment, Photographs, undated

Elephant Interest Group, 1984

Elephant Manager's Association, 1988-1991

Elephant Manager's Association, Ethics Board, 1997

Elephant Manager's Association, Newsletter, 1989-1990

Elephant Pallets and Elephant Stands, 1986-1987

Elephant Pallets and Elephant Stands, Photographs, 1987

Elephant, Photographs, undated

Elephant Training, 1981

Elephant Workshop, 1st Annual, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1980

Elephant Workshop, 3rd Annual, Springfield, Missouri, 1982

Elephant Workshop, 4th Annual, Kansas City, 1983

Elephant Workshop, 9th Annual, Jacksonville, Florida, 1988

Elephant Workshop, 10th Annual, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1989

Elephant Workshop, 11th Annual, Milwaukee, 1990

Elephants, Reference Materials, 1990, undated

Hasti, Newsletter, 1986-1987, 1989-1990

Humane Society of the United States, American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, Guidelines, Elephants, Washington, D.C., 1991

International Species Inventory System, 1982

Lota Controversy, 1990-1991

Miscellaneous, Photographs, undated

Narrating Captivity, Nigel Rothfels, 1999

Newsclippings, 1979-1988

Newsclippings, 1992-2000

Newsclippings, undated

Ringling Elephant History: The First Fifty Years, Raymond Moreau, 1990

Species Survival Program, Application Materials, 1991-1997

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.

Advertisements, Mailer, 1990

Board Minutes and Diary, 1982

Board of Directors, 1982-1983

Contracts and Historical Information, undated

Correspondence, 1982-1993

Letterhead, undated

Minutes, 1993

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.

Correspondence, 1976-1996

Pamphlets, undated

Photographs, 1982

Photographs, 1996

Resumes, undated

Rules and Regulations, undated