Collection inventory


Special Collections home page


Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection

An inventory of the collection at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: January 2016



Historical Note

Alexia Foundation Logo

The Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding honors the legacy of Alexia Kathryn Tsairis, one of 35 Syracuse University study abroad students killed in the December 21, 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The organization was founded in 1991 by Alexia's parents, Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis, and her mentor, David Sutherland. The Alexia Foundation was established with an abiding belief in the responsibility and capability of individuals to shape and advance the cause of peace and is dedicated to providing the means by which to accomplish this goal. In 2021, The Alexia Foundation became part of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and was renamed The Alexia. The Alexia presents annual awards of grants and scholarships to both professional and student photojournalists. To date, 170 photojournalists have been recognized by The Alexia with funding totaling over 1.7 million dollars.

Photograph of Alexia Kathryn Tsairis

Alexia Kathryn Tsairis (1968-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. She was a junior at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications majoring in photojournalism and spent the fall 1988 semester studying abroad in London, England. She was also an accomplished student athlete and played for Syracuse University's women's volleyball team. Her mentor, Professor David Sutherland, recalled she was selected by both the faculty and her peers as "the most talented and promising photographer in the group" of photojournalism students. Alexia had spent two summers working in the Graphic and Photo Departments of the Associated Press.


Scope and Content Note

The Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection contains materials related to the organization founded by the parents and mentor of Alexia Tsairis, one of 35 Syracuse University study abroad students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Submissions to the grant competition for photojournalism comprise the bulk of this collection. The collection has been divided into the following series:

Alexia Competition contains materials relevant to the judging and administration of the Alexia Foundation's yearly photojournalism competition (now known as The Alexia). The subseries Award recipients makes up the majority of this series, and consists of winning submissions to the competition, including photographic prints, resumes, and grant proposals, as well as materials produced by winners with Alexia Foundation grant funding. The rest of the series consists of judging materials, including notes and rankings from judges and lists of winners.

Awards includes material related to honors received by the Alexia Foundation: the Columbia Journalism School's Alex I. duPont Award; and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Kenneth McLaughlin Award.

Clippings contains items pertaining to the Alexia Foundation published in various newspapers, periodicals, and other publicity outlets.

Correspondence contains both the incoming and outgoing correspondence of Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis pertaining to Foundation events and happenings. Correspondents include: former Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor, former Dean of the S.I. Newhouse School, David Rubin, and Nirelle Galson, former Director of Syracuse University's Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA).

Exhibits and seminars consists of materials related to various international exhibits sponsored by the Alexia Foundation, as well as conferences and seminars attended and presented at by Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis as representatives of the Foundation. Materials include exhibit catalogs, posters, correspondence with venues, clippings, and memorabilia pertaining to specific events, such as the international travelling installations of Eyes on the World, an exhibit initially mounted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Memorabilia consists of items produced by the Alexia Foundation commemorating or promoting the Foundation and its events, including banners, lapel pins, and a trophy won by Aphrodite Tsairis in the 2004 Alexia Weekend chili invitational.

Photographs contains images taken at exhibitions, meetings, competition judging panels and other events hosted or attended by the Alexia Foundation and its members.

Printed material includes posters, informational brochures, and other promotional materials related to Foundation events. Also included are issues of the Foundation's newsletter, Alexia Foundation Update.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

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 Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection Related collections include:

Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers

Matthew Cox Papers

On Eagles' Wings Collection

Pan Am 103 Individuals Collection

Pan Am 103 Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women Collection

Remembrance Quilt Collection


Selected Search Terms

Names

Tsairis family.
Tsairis, Alexia Kathryn
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Syracuse University. -- Syracuse Abroad.
Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Human rights.
Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing Incident, 1988.
Photography -- Competitions.
Photojournalism.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States -- Case Studies.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States -- History.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States.
Terrorism -- History -- 20th Century.
Video journalism.
Lockerbie (Scotland)
Photographers.
Photojournalists.

Types of Material

Badges.
Banners.
Booklets.
Books.
Brochures.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Lapel pins.
Magazines (periodicals)
Newsletters.
Pamphlets.
Photographs.
Proposals.
Résumés (personnel records)
Trophies (objects)
Visitors' books.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis between 2014 and 2023.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders in acid-free boxes.


Arrangement

Materials are arranged alphabetically with the exception of the Award recipients subseries of the Alexia Competition series. These materials are housed chronologically by award year, then in the order that each recipient placed in the competition, with student awards following professional.


Table of Contents

Alexia Competition

Awards

Clippings

Correspondence

Exhibits and seminars

Memorabilia

Photographs

Printed material


Inventory