Zim, Herbert S. (Herbert Spencer), 1909-1994

American author of non-fiction books for children and young adults.

From the description of What's inside of plants? : production material, ca. 1951-1952. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681065

From the description of What's inside the earth? : production material, ca. 1952-1953. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406503

From the description of Your food and you : production material, ca. 1956-1959. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495099

From the description of Medicine : production material, ca. 1972-1974. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495096

From the description of Pipes and plumbing systems : production material, ca. 1972-1974. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451943

From the description of What's inside of animals? : production material, ca. 1952-1953. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444421

From the description of Flowers : a guide to familiar American wildflowers : production material, ca. 1948-1950. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451941

From the description of Insects : a guide to familiar American insects : production material, ca. 1950-1951. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444419

From the description of Alligators and crocodiles : production material, ca. 1949-1952. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451940

From the description of The great whales : production material, ca. 1950-1951. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495095

From the description of What's inside of engines? : production material, ca. 1952-1953. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495097

From the description of Eating places : production material, ca. 1974-1976. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444418

From the description of How things grow : production material, ca. 1957-1960. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451942

From the description of Flowers : a guide to familiar American wildflowers : production material, ca. 1948-1950. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154649405

From the description of Trees : a guide to familiar American trees : production material, ca. 1951-1952. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154649413

From the description of Pipes and plumbing systems : production material, ca. 1972-1974. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154649412

From the description of Eating places : production material, ca. 1974-1976. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154649400

From the description of Insects : a guide to familiar American insects : production material, ca. 1950-1951. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154649409

From the description of Crabs : production material, ca. 1972-1974. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154649398

From the description of The sun : production material, ca. 1949-1953. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681063

From the description of Crabs : production material, ca. 1972-1974. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681062

From the description of Papers, 1948-1976 (bulk 1950-1975). (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681061

From the description of Trees : a guide to familiar American trees : production material, ca. 1951-1952. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681064

From the description of Golden hamsters : production material, ca. 1949-1951. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406502

Herbert Spencer Zim (1909-1994) was born in New York City. Zim was interested in science from an early age and began teaching about science from the age of 17. He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph. D. (in 1940) from Columbia University. His research focussed on the science needs of adolescents, and he determined to write books on scientific topics targeted at that audience, later broadening his scope to include books for children under 12. He became editor of the Golden Nature Guides in 1947, also writing for that series. In the 1930s while in college he married his first wife, anthropologist and writer Sonia Elizabeth Bleeker (1909-1971); they collaborated on some titles. During the 1950s he was professor of education at the University of Illinois. Herbert S. Zim died of Alzheimer's in Plantation Key, Florida. Sonia Bleeker was born in Starchevicvhi, Russia, and emigrated with her family after the Revolution. During her graduate work at Columbia, Bleeker studied with Franz Boas and Ruth Benedict. After college she wrote and worked for publishers; she and Zim travelled the world gathering material for the anthropological books she wrote for young people, including a series of books for children about North American Indians.

From the description of Herbert Spencer Zim and Sonia Bleeker papers, 1934-1976. (University of Oregon Libraries). WorldCat record id: 123190331

Herbert S. Zim, a naturalist and teacher, was born in New York City in 1909. Dr. Zim taught science and science education for thirty years and was the author of more than one hundred science books for children and adults.

From the description of Herbert S. Zim papers, 1952-1992 (bulk 1952-1975). (University of Southern Mississippi, Regional Campus). WorldCat record id: 48562031

Professor, author.

Herbert Spencer Zim was born July 12, 1909, in New York City. He attended Columbia University, and received a BA in 1933, his MA in 1934, and a Ph. D. in 1940. He taught science in New York and was later a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana. He also developed science labs for elementary schools. In 1942, Zim published his first book for young readers, Mice, men and elephants. He wrote dozens of books for children on a variety of scientific subjects.

Herbert Spencer Zim died on December 5, 1944, in Plantation Key, Florida.

From the description of Papers, 1955-1971. (Florida State University). WorldCat record id: 50903282

Herbert Spencer Zim (July 12, 1909-December 5, 1994) was a teacher and writer of children’s books on science. He was born to Marco and Minnie (Orlo) Zim in New York City, New York. He married Sonia Bleeker on January 6, 1934. They had two sons-Aldwin H. and Roger S. and then after the death of Sonia in 1971, Zim married Grace K. Showe on June 4, 1978. Zim died in Plantation Key, Florida.

Herbert Zim was educated at City College (now City College of the City University of New York) from 1927-1929, and then attended Columbia University where he received a B.S. in 1933, a M.A. in 1934, and a Ph. D. in 1940.

His hobbies and interests included fishing, gardening and traveling. He was a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, American Institute of Biological Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science (fellow), American Nature Study Society (director from 1968-1970), National Science Teacher’s Association, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, National Association of Biology Teachers, Union of Concerned Scientists, Authors Guild, Authors League of America, Audubon Society, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Nature Conservancy, Isaac Walton League, Western Society of Naturalists, Pacific Science Association, Everglades Natural History Association and Sierra Club.

During his career Zim was an instructor of science at Ethical Culture Schools in New York City, New York from 1932-1950, developed first elementary science laboratories from 1934-1936, and was the head of the department of science from 1937-1945. Zim was an associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 1950-1954 and then a professor of education (science) from 1954-1957. He was a full time writer and editor on science subjects and consultant from 1957 on. From 1934-1937 Zim was conductor of study of science interests of adolescents. At Columbia University he was and instructor for the summers of 1935 and 1936 and conductor of summer field trips through North America from 1937-1941. Following that Zim was an educational director at the Artists and Writers Press from 1957-1969. Zim was also an adjunct professor of education at the University of Miami in Miami Florida beginning in 1968. Zim was a member of the steering committee for Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, and participant in an Elementary Science Study. He was an educational consultant for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 1947-1951, for the Western Publishing Company from 1967-1970 and American Friends Service Committee from 1968-1975. Zim was also an editorial consultant for Physical Science Study. Zim served as conscientious objector working on Pre-induction Training Program, U.S. War Department from 1942-1943 and also was in the Civilian Public Service from 1943-1945.

Sonia Bleeker (November 28, 1909-November 13, 1971) was born in Starchevicvih, Russia to Ivan and Yedlia Bleeker.

Bleeker received her education at Hunter College (now Hunter College of the City University of New York), where she received her B.A. in 1933. She then went to Columbia University where she did graduate study in anthropology.

Bleeker was a member of the American Anthropological Association and Delta Kappa Gamma (as an honorary member).

During her career Bleeker was an editor for Simon & Schuster, Inc. in New York City, New York from 1931-1946. Then she was a full time writer of youth books from 1950-1971.

Source: Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2003.

From the guide to the Herbert Spencer Zim and Sonia Bleeker papers, 1934-1976, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)

Herbert Spencer Zim was born July 12, 1909 in New York City. He attended Columbia University and received a BA in 1933, his MA in 1934, and a Ph.D. in 1940. He taught science for many years in New York and later was a professor of education (science) at the University of Illinois at Urbana. Zim also developed science labs for elementary school students and would bring his keen interest in education to his books. In 1942 he published his first book for young readers, Mice, Men and Elephants. During his long and prolific career, he wrote dozens of books for children and young adults on a "variety of subjects ranging from sea shells to minerals to the function of the brain to national parks." Herbert Spencer Zim became well known for his "scientific books for children" that were "rich" in detail and "jam-packed with material for the interested reader." Herbert Spencer died on December 5, 1994 in Plantation Key, Florida.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vol. 30, pp. 222-226; Something About the Author, vol. 85, p. 221.

From the guide to the Herbert Spencer Zim Papers, 1948-1976, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc])