• 1920: “The Story of Doctor Dolittle” by Hugh Lofting published.
• 1924: Robert Yerkes founded Yale University Laboratories of Primate Biology.
• 1931: Luella and Winthrop Kellogg raise a chimpanzee named Gua with their son Donald.
• 1932: Kelloggs end their study  after nine months (March 28). Gua is returned to the Robert Yerkes Primate Center in Florida.
• 1956: On Yerkes’ death his lab moved to Emory University in Atlanta, GA and is called Yerkes National Primate Research Center.
• 1958: Oliver the “Humanzee” born
• 1960: Oliver acquired by Frank and Janet Berger
• 1963: “La planète des singes “ published. Written by Pierre Boulle. Boulle had previously written and published “Le Pont de la rivière Kwaï “ in 1952 which became the 1957 movie “The Bridge over the River Kwai.” Boulle was credited with the screenplay and won an Oscar because the actual writers (Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson) were blacklisted. Boulle did not speak English.
• 1965: Washoe born.
• 1967: Musical film “Doctor Dolittle” with Rex Harrison.
• 1967: Allen and Beatrix Gardner begin Project Washoe at the University of Nevada in Reno.
• 1967: Booie born at the National Institutes of Health research facility in Bethesda, Maryland.  Adopted by Dr. Schneider.
• 1968: “Planet of the Apes” Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter
• 1970: “Beneath the Planet of the Apes”
• 1970: Booie sent to Dr. Lemmon’s institute (Institute of Primate Studies in Norman, OK). Precedes Dr. Fouts and Washoe by a few months.
• 1970: Dr. Roger Fouts moves Washoe to University of Oklahoma’s Institute of Primate Studies in Norman, OK.
• 1971: “Escape from the Planet of the Apes”
• 1972: “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes”
• 1973: “Battle for the Planet of the Apes”
• 1973: Project Nim begins (Nov. 19) at Columbia University under Dr. Herbert S. Terrace. Nim born at the University of Oklahoma’s Institute of Primate Studies under Dr. Bill Lemmon. Nim is taken from his mother Carolyn at age 2 weeks. Carolyn will give birth to 14 infants (including five sets of twins) that will all be taken from her in a similar manner.
• 1974: “Planet of the Apes” TV series. Ran only a half season with 14 episodes.
• 1975: “Return to the Planet of the Apes” animation on TV.
• 1975: Oliver the Humanzee sold to Manhattan attorney Michael Miller.
• 1977: Nim Chimsky moved to University of Oklahoma’s Institute of Primate Studies.
• 1976: Oliver given to Ralph Helfer and displayed in the Enchanted Village (Buena Park, CA).
• 1978: Oliver displayed in the Gentle Jungle (also Helfer) around the Greater Los Angeles area.
• 1979: Dr. Terrace publishes a paper denouncing his original language acquisition claims. Claims Nim only a skilled mimic.
• 1980: Washoe movies to Central Washington University in July. Leaves behind Booee.
• 1981: Episodes from the TV series were re-edited and made into five TV movies.
• 1982: Nim and Booee sent to NYU LEMSIP (Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates)
• 1982: Oliver sold to Wild Animal Training Center in Riverside, CA and owned by Ken Decroo.  During this time Oliver was in a skit with Loretta Swit on Dick Clark TV show called Animals Are the Funniest People. Oliver played the president.
• 1982: Ally and Nim, the ASL signing chimps returned to OK facility. Ally sent to an private New Mexico lab. Nim sent to Black Beauty Ranch in TX.
• 1983: Bubbles born and adopted by recording artist Michael Jackson.
• 1987: Oliver sold to Bill Rivers and his Movieland Animals animal rental business.
• 1989: Buckshire Corporation (Pennsylvania lab which leases animals for scientific and cosmetic testing) purchases Oliver. His small cage results in muscle atrophy.
• 1994: Pierre Boulle dies in Paris, France at age 81
• 1995: Dr. Fouts visits LEMSIP with ABC 20/20 and signs with Booee. Airdate May 5.  Booie and eight other adult chimps shipped by truck to Wildlife Waystation.  Booie has incurable disease from time a LEMSIP (hepatitis- C positive)
• 1995: LEMSIP closed
• 1995: Beatrix T. Gardner dies (61).
• 1996: Primarily Primates (founded in 1978) acquires Oliver.
• 1997: UK bans licenses for experiment on chimpanzees.
• 1998: National Geographic documentary about James Mahoney’s attempt to save about 100 primates
• 2000: On March 10 Nim dies of heart failure.
• 2000: The Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act signed into law. Provides for the retirement and lifetime care for chimpanzees no longer needed in research and prohibiting euthanasia for convenience.
• 2000: NZ bans experiments on chimpanzees.
• 2002: Netherlands bans experiments on chimpanzees.
• 2003: Australia limits experiments on chimpanzees.
• 2003: Sweden bans experiments on chimpanzees.
• 2003: Bubbles moved to Bob Dunn’s ranch in Sylmar, Ca.
• 2004: Bubbles moved to Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida.
• 2006: Austria bans experiments on chimpanzees.
• 2007: Balearic Islands grants chimpanzees legal rights.
• 2007: (October 3) Washoe dies at age 42.
• 2008: “Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human” by Elizabeth Hess published.
• 2008: Belgium bans experiments on great apes.
• 2008: Spanish Parliament resolution urges Spain to grant great apes legal rights.
• 2008: The Great Ape Protection Act (GAPA H.R. 5852) introduced. This bill seeks to end invasive research on chimpanzees in the U.S. and retire federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary.
• 2009: GAPA reintroduced.
• 2010: EU ban ends use of great apes in experiments.
• 2010: Senate version of GAPA is introduced.
• 2011: “Project Nim” opens
• 2011: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

References:

1. The Atlantic Monthly: http://www.theatlantic.com/ideastour/animals/shreeve-full.html
2. IMDB
3. The Independent
4. “Next of Kin” by Dr. Roger Fouts
5. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (website)
6. ReleaseChimps.org part of the New England Anti-Vivisection Society
7. Wikipedia