Elizabeth Zimmer was interviewed by Marvette Perez on July 5, 1996. Born in Rochester, New York, in 1951, Zimmer was a member of the faculty at Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge. She began working at the Smithsonian in June 1990 and is a research biologist at the Laboratory of Molecular Systematics. She taught at Cal Tech while on sabbatical in 1993-1994. This interview discusses the type of work that Zimmer does, who she works with at the Smithsonian, how she got her job, her visits to the Smithsonian prior to working here, her fist day on the job, a typical day of work, her involvement in the 150th anniversary activities at the Smithsonian, the course of her career at the Smithsonian, her work with fellows and graduate students, a comparison of the Smithsonian to academia, challenging aspects of her job, changes she has seen at the Smithsonian, reminiscences about working at the Smithsonian, what working at the Smithsonian means to Zimmer, and her memories of the Folklife Festivals. Zimmer mentions colleagues Mike Braun and Dave Swofford.

Object Details

See more items in: Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews; Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews / Interviews

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9594, Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews