Jane Goodall: The Chimps & A Power for Good

Jane Goodall: The Chimps & A Power for Good 

Curators Statement 

We are proud to feature this exhibit in honor of Women’s History Month because Dr. Jane Goodall is a powerful example of being a force for good in the world. After she passed away in October 2025, our grandfather showed us photographs he took of Dr. Goodall in Tanzania. We then learned more about her life through his photos, by reading articles, and watching documentaries. We were inspired by the impact of Dr. Goodall’s work, her time with chimpanzees, and her dedication to protecting the environment. We felt that her story and legacy are important and should be shared with our community. 

Jane Goodall once said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” She reminds us that we each have a choice in the impact we make in this life. It could be a kind word, an act of care, making a choice about what we consume, how we interact with each other, or how we care for the planet’s resources. That’s how change happens – though each of us, every day. 

This exhibit features photographs taken by our grandfather, Kenneth Love, while he was working on a National Geographic TV special in Tanzania in 1982, as well as excerpts from our interview with him about his experience. We hope you enjoy it!  

— Abigail Wu & Madeline Wu

Jane Goodall’s Biography 

Dr. Jane Goodall was a primatologist and anthropologist who made many groundbreaking scientific discoveries. She was born in 1934 in London and developed a strong interest in animals at a young age. She began studying chimps in the 1960s at Gombe National Park in Tanzania and continued her work for 65 years. She was one of the first women to study chimpanzees and left a lasting mark on history. 

In the early days, building trust with the chimps took time. It took her four months to see a chimp and about a year until they trusted her. She eventually formed close bonds with them. Instead of assigning them numbers, she named them, including David Greybeard, Fifi, and Flo. Through her research and detailed observations, she discovered that chimps have emotions, distinct personalities, and make and use tools. Her groundbreaking work revolutionized our understanding of chimpanzees.  

Dr. Goodall devoted her life to conservation and activism. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, a global conservation organization, and in 1991, she founded Roots & Shoots to inspire young people to affect positive change in their communities. She spent much of her later years traveling and speaking tirelessly to raise awareness and inspire global action. She was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2002. Her lifelong work reshaped science and continues to inspire people around the world. She exemplifies how one person can make a difference and be a power for good in the world.

Kenneth Love, Photographer

Kenneth Love has spent over five decades in the film industry working as a producer, director, sound engineer, and still photographer. He spent 19 years with National Geographic Television and earned three Emmy Awards, along with ten nominations. Kenneth holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.F.A. in film and television from Carnegie Mellon University.  He is the proud grandfather of Abigail and Madeline Wu.

Jane in the Field

“We have the choice to use the gift of our lives to make the world a better place — or not. I choose to make the world a better place.” – Jane Goodall

How did you end up taking photographs of Dr. Jane Goodall at work?

“I took these photos because I was part of a National Geographic crew filming Jane Goodall: Among the Wild Chimpanzees in August 1982. Our small crew filmed with Dr. Goodall at her home in Dar es Salaam and at Gombe Stream National Park, where I recorded sound and took photographs. It was an honor when Jane allowed me to join a rare all-day “follow,” during which she silently tracked chimpanzees from dawn to dusk, carefully recording every detail of their behavior. This is how she was able to observe and develop many insights about chimpanzee behavior.” – Kenneth Love

Life Among the Chimps

“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” – Jane Goodall

What was it like to be around the chimps? Was it exciting? Scary to be so close? 

“It was intriguing and great fun to be in the company of the chimpanzees and with Jane. They were inseparable. One day, we were filming, and the dominant male charged into the clearing. His black hair was bristling, and he came directly toward me. I froze. He stopped just a few feet from me, stared briefly, then turned and walked away. It was an unforgettable moment.” – Kenneth Love

“Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved.” – Jane Goodall