Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers
An inventory of the papers at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at Syracuse University
Summary |
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| Creator: | Lowenstein family. |
| Title: | Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers |
| Dates: | 1967-2013 |
| Size: | 13 linear feet, 20 boxes |
| Abstract: | Materials relating to Alexander Lowenstein, one of the 35 students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 while returning from studying abroad through Syracuse University's Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA), and materials relating to Suse Lowenstein's sculpture Dark Elegy |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/pan-am-103 |
Biography
Alexander Lowenstein (1967-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. He was one of the 35 Syracuse University students traveling home after a semester abroad. Alexander (also known as Alex or Alexi) was an English major, but hoped to pursue a degree in clinical psychology so he could work in a psychiatric clinic after he graduated. Alex was a brother in the Zeta Psi fraternity at Syracuse University and sat on the Inter-fraternity Council.
"Alexander was very special. His ability to fully enjoy life; to make us laugh; to draw his peers to him; to make us love him," his parents recall. Alex was a water person who loved surfing and scuba diving near his parents' home in Montauk on Long Island. He was survived by his parents Suse and Peter and his brother Lucas.
Suse Lowenstein is an accomplished sculptor; her work Dark Elegy has garnered much acclaim and commentary over the years and has served as a reminder of the evils of terrorism. Dark Elegy consists of 75 individual sculptures depicting women at the moment they learned their loved one had been killed on Pan Am Flight 103. Each figure was sculpted from life. Dark Elegy is dedicated to all victims of terrorism.
Scope and Content Note
The Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers contain ten series.
The Artwork series contains Alex's artwork and sketches.
Audiovisual materials consist of film and audio recordings that represent Alex's hobbies, interests, and extracurriculars. The video recordings include footage of Alex surfing and spending time at the beach with his family, participating in a competition at his high school, and performing in a theater production called "Park Place." All videos have been converted to DVD. This series also contains Alex's collection of audiocassettes, including original albums and homemade mixtapes.
Clippings contains full newspapers and clippings relating to Alex's life and memorialization, the bombing of Pan Am 103 and the subsequent trials, and terrorism generally. Of special interest may be the clippings from the two years before Alex's death and those related to the Camp Zeist trial in the Netherlands.
The Correspondence series contains Alexander Lowenstein's personal correspondence, condolences, general correspondence files and correspondence with people in Lockerbie. Many of the letters from people in Lockerbie contain photographs as inserts.
The Dark Elegy series documents the sculpture created by Suse Lowenstein. Clippings, correspondence, photographs and writings related to Dark Elegy are located in this series. It also includes information about exhibitions of Dark Elegy.
Personal objects includes items that belonged to Alex. Items recovered from the crash site at Lockerbie are not included in this series.
Photographs and negatives contains digitized photographs from a photo album the Lowenstein family temporarily loaned the Archives, and physical photographs of Alex with his friends and family. Of special interest to researchers may be photographs from his semester studying abroad in 1988, depicting London and trips to Amsterdam, and photographs developed from film found at the crash site.
Subject files contains topical files of general interest, as well as all of Alex's personal materials from the crash site. Many of Alex's personal papers and photographs from fall 1988 are in this series. Additionally, there is a copy of Senate Resolution 727 signed by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Researchers may also be interested in the maps used to plot locations of victims' bodies as well as Pan Am 103 passenger statistics, including a seating chart for the Boeing 747.
Writings contains Alex's class notebooks, exam books, and papers he wrote as a student at Syracuse University. Writings about Alex or the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster are also housed here.
Alternative Formats
Selected materials from this collection have been digitized. Please contact the archivist for further information on accessing these materials.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions for this collection.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from the Pan Am Flight 103 Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Related Material
The Pan Am Flight 103 Archives contains additional materials and information related to the Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers. Related collections include:
Pan Am Flight 103 Audiovisual Collection
Pan Am 103 Publications Collection
Selected Search Terms
Names
Associated Titles
Subjects
Types of material
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Gift of Peter and Suse Lowenstein.
Processing Information
Materials were placed in acid-free folders and boxes.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Cara A. Howe
Date: 2014
Revision history: Mar 2015 - Stylistic changes (VSOM);
Apr 2015 - Access restrictions removed (VSOM);
Jun 2016 - New accessions integrated (VSOM);
Feb 2018 - Stylistic changes (VSOM);
April 2023 - Oversize items reboxed and inventory updated (HVA)
Arrangement
The Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers are arranged alphabetically by series. Some sections are arranged chronologically.
Inventory
| Artwork | |||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Sketches by Alexander Lowenstein undated | ||||||||||
| Dark Elegy | |||||||||||
| Box 9 | A broken heart still beats after your child dies, by Anne McCracken and Mary Semel, cover art undated | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Campaign for permanent home in Washington, DC 2007 | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Clippings 1991-2001, undated | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | Clippings circa 1992-1996 oversize | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Correspondence circa 1989-1994 (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Exhibitions | |||||||||||
| Box 9 | Douglass College 1997 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Douglass College 1997 | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Others 1991, 1993-1994, 1997 | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Rutgers University 1996 | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Photographs and slides undated Dark Elegy at Syracuse University |
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| Oversize 1 | Photographs circa 1996 | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Printed materials 1997 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Sketches by Lauren Ennist undated | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Student comments on Dark Elegy film undated | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | "The Women of Lockerbie," by Deborah Brevoort, program art 2008 | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Writings about Dark Elegy 1996, undated | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Writings by Suse Lowenstein undated Alexander Lowenstein by Suse Lowenstein Dark Elegy by Suse Lowenstein Letter to the editor from Suse Lowenstein Artist's statement by Suse Lowenstein |
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| Printed materials | |||||||||||
| Box 12 | Annual harbor lights gala honoring Suse and Peter Lowenstein 5 August 2006 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Birth certificate 1967 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Certificate of achievement from Syracuse University College of Arts and
Sciences circa 1989 Certificate of Achievement from College of Arts and Sciences |
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| Box 12 | Certifications 1975-1982 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Congressional Record: Senate Resolution 727 signed by Hillary Rodham
Clinton 9 December 2008 Senate Resolution 727 signed by Hillary Rodham Clinton |
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| Box 12 | Contraband Detection International 9 April 1991 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Diploma, high school 1985 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Diploma, middle school 1981 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Maps, locations of bodies undated | ||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Map, locations of bodies undated Map of Locations of Bodies |
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| Box 12 | Mendham Township Middle School 1979-1981 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences convocation program 5 May 1990 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | West Morris Mendham High School 1985 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Zeta Psi Fraternity circa 1986-1989 | ||||||||||
| Subject files | |||||||||||
| Alexander Lowenstein | |||||||||||
| Box 12 | Grave plot at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton, New York 1989 | ||||||||||
| Box 12 | Inter-fraternity council notes 1987-1988 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Personal documents 1988, undated | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Planner 1983, August 1987-August 1988 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Anis, Magdy and Fady [attorneys] disciplinary review board 1991 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Authorizations to conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of others 1992 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | AVSEC international conference 26 October 1993 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Barringer Instruments, Inc. circa 1991 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Body identification December 1988 Body Number 167, Alexander Lowenstein (not graphic) |
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| Box 12 | CDI's Security Service Bureau (SSB) 1991 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Class schedules 1987 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Donahue syndication list 1 November 1989 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Eulogies 30 December 1988 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Estate of Alexander Lowenstein 1991 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Federal Aviation Administration security bulletin process undated | ||||||||||
| Found in wreckage | |||||||||||
| Box 15 | Audiocassette pouch undated | ||||||||||
| Box 14 | Journal pages 1988 | ||||||||||
| Box 14 | Personal papers 1988, undated Tower of London postcard British Rail pass |
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| Box 14 | Photographs 1988 Stonehenge |
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| Box 15 | Radio and cassette player undated | ||||||||||
| Box 15 | Sweater undated | ||||||||||
| Box 15 | Underwater camera undated | ||||||||||
| Box 15 | Wallet undated | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Letter of recommendation for Alex Lowenstein 10 December 1984 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Memorials 1990 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Pan Am 103 passenger statistics compiled by Barry J. Flick undated
- includes seat assignments Pan Am 103 passenger statistics |
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| Box 13 | Obituaries December 1988 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Report cards and grade reports 1979-1988 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Return of personal property 1989-1990 | ||||||||||
| Box 14 | Rubbing from Memorial Wall in Lockerbie, Scotland undated | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Trial at Camp van Zeist, Netherlands, verdict 31 January 2001 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | United States Mission to the United Nations 1992-1993 | ||||||||||
| Box 13 | Warsaw Convention and liability undated | ||||||||||