I hope to be able to add to this list after my trip to Atlanta with my mom later this month!
Doc operating the gristmill at the Atlanta Zoo Children's Barn:
Doc on the left, assisted by a City Prisoner and the contract Vet, while they all did a necropsy to determine the cause of death (other than age) of an Asian Elephant at the Altanta Zoo in 1968 (image edited by me to remove the sad dead elephant):
Doc guarding the three elephants at the Altanta Zoo in 1968, while others are removing the body of the fourth elephant who died:
This one is my absolute favorite, I just love the way he's standing looking at the elephants!
Thank you, Mr. Roth, for those wonderful pictures!!
Other gems I have been able to unearth, in chronological order (except where noted, I actually have physical copies and/or originals of all these items):
June 1934
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Volume 38
A list of graduates with a DVM from Cornell University
1937
Modern Veterinary Practice
Volume 18, p. 53
Mention that Dr. Higgins of Flemington NJ spoke to the FFA…
I know this article exists, but have been unable to locate a copy of it
June 9, 1945
Narragansett Park Official Racing Charts
Doc is listed as Owner of two racing horses: “Bill’s Sister” and “After Time”
June 28, 1952
Billboard Magazine
An article titled “Under the Marquee” discusses Doc succeeding Dr. Henderson
January 31, 1953
Billboard Magazine
Mention of Doc along with Dr. Henderson as Ringling veterinarians
September 19, 1953
Billboard Magazine
An article titled “Dressing Room Gossip” mentions Doc, Mrs. Higgins, and Suzann
February 1954
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Volume 124 p. 165
Doc discussed “A Veterinarian’s Life in the Circus” with fellow JAVMA members at meetings of the Oklahoma chapter
February 20, 1954
Billboard Magazine
An article about the brain surgery of Toto a gorilla titled “Toto II Recuperating After Much Publicized Operation”
March 15, 1954
LIFE Magazine
“Gorilla Brain Surgery” features an article and two pictures in which Doc appears, including a close-up of Doc with Toto
October 23, 1954
Billboard Magazine
Mention of Doc in article “20 New Additions Bring Ringling Elephant Herd to 50”
1955
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Program
p. 21
“Menagerie Medics” has a mention of Doc and a photo of him treating a bear with the help of Dr. Henderson
February 12, 1955
Billboard Magazine
Mention of Doc in brief article “Ringling Giraffe Dies in Quarters”
February 26, 1956
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“News of Interest from Aloha Trailer City” mentions Doc, Mrs. Higgins, and Suzann
July 17, 1956
Sarasota Journal
Among other articles about the circus, a photo of Doc in front of a tiger cage
1957
Bandwagon May-June 1957
p. 6
An article titled “The Circus Doctor Talks About His Odd Patients” by L. M. White
1958
Wild Tigers and Tame Fleas by Bill Ballantine
p. 266
Quote from the book: “Hell, even Doc Higgins”—Smokey referred to the circus’s number 2 veterinarian—“and there ain’t a kinder man livin’—he changed his mind about havin’ to wap elephants once in a while.”
Spring 1961
Bandwagon March-April 1964
p. 24-25
“Ringling Bros Circus Spring 1961” by Douglas Lyon
Features a photo of the circus arena, and listed among the performers is Doc, Selma (Geneva), and Suzann Higgins
1966
Circus Historians
Robert Brisendine…according to his bio on the Circus History website, “In 1966 (Brisendine) found William Y. Higgins working at the Atlanta Zoo. That led to the recording of Doc’s circus menagerie memoirs.” (cross your fingers we find something good at Emory University, where Mr. Brisendine's collection is stored!)
1967
Bandwagon July-August 1967
Mentions of Doc in “Further Notes About Ringling Hippos 1938-1965” by Richard J. Reynolds III
1968
Bandwagon March-April 1968
p. 10
Doc mentioned in “Circus Zebras” by Richard J. Reynolds III
July 15, 1972
Tuscaloosa News
A picture of Doc with Frasier the lion and accompanying article “Frazier (sic), National Sex Symbol, Dies”
July 1972
Modern Veterinary Practice
Volume 53, Issue 7, p. 40
Co-authored “Pyothorax in a Lion Cub”
I have been unable to locate a copy of this article
1974-75
Zoos and Aquariums In the Americas
Listed as a Fellow
June 1979
Westways Magazine (by Automobile Club of Southern California)
Volume 71, #6
p. 43-45, 80
Wonderful, hilarious mentions of Doc in “Zoolu” about the Wildlife Safari in Oregon
1982
Veterinary Pathology
Volume 19, p. 215
Co-authored “Osteolipomatous Metaplasia in the Liver of Cameloids”
1987
Bandwagon March-April 1987
p. 21
Mentioned in “The Only Circus Okapis” by Richard J. Reynolds III
2003
Bandwagon September-October 2003
Unknown article and photo (waiting on this to come in the mail)
2004
Bandwagon September-October 2004
p. 32
Doc mentioned in “Lotus: Grand Dame of Circus Hippos” by Richard J. Reynolds III
2008
Bandwagon July –August 2008
p. 4-5
Mention of Doc, Mrs. Higgins, and Suzann in “On the Road With The Big Show in 1953-1954” by Bill Taggert
Accompanying photo of Doc with the bear and Dr. Henderson
2009
Bandwagon September-October 2009
p. 17, 19
Mention in “The 1954 Fall Tour of The Greatest Show on Earth” by Bill Taggert
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