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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

Revision history:

Historical Note

The Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding honors the legacy of Alexia Kathryn Tsairis, one of 35 Syracuse University 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. To that end, the Foundation presents annual awards of grants and scholarships to both professional and student photojournalists. To date, over 140 photojournalists have been recognized by the Foundation with funding totaling nearly one-million dollars. More information about the Foundation is available on their website, AlexiaFoundation.org, and in the Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers here at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives.

Born July 6, 1968, Alexia Kathryn Tsairis was a junior at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications majoring in photojournalism. She was also an accomplished student athlete, and played for Syracuse University's women's volleyball team. Alexia had spent the fall 1988 semester in London. Her mentor, Professor David Sutherland, recalled she had been selected by both the faculty and her peers as "the most talented and promising photographer in the group" of photojournalism students. By her senior year of college, Alexia had spent two summers working in the Graphic and Photo Departments of the Associated Press. Even before graduation, her promising career was under way. Alexia's bright future was cut short by the December 21, 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. She was survived by her parents, Peter and Aphrodite, her brother, George Alex, and sister, Ariadne.

Scope and Content Note

The Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collections contains materials related to the organization founded by the parents and mentor of Alexia Tsairis, one of 35 Syracuse University 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:

Awards includes material related to two of the many 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. Much of this series pertains to international travelling installations of Eyes on the World, an exhibit initially mounted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Please note some materials in this series are oversized, and are housed separately from related items.

Memorabilia consists of a single item: Aphrodite Tsairis' 2004 trophy from the Alexia Weekend Chili Invitational.

Photographs comprise the bulk of this collection. This series contains the submission materials and prints from both student and professional grant recipients. These materials are housed chronologically by award year, then alphabetically by recipient's last name. Sample images from each recipient, story proposals, and any other accompanying paperwork are immediately available. Additional images, as well as large-format materials, must be requested in advance.

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, and artwork for the Foundation's original logo.

Subject Files contain an assortment of materials related to Foundation events, grant winners, and colleagues of the Tsairis family.

Additional materials related to Alexia Tsairis, her life and legacy can be found in the Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers.

Alternative Formats

Selected materials from this collection may be available digitally. Please contact the archivist for further information on accessing the materials.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that portions of the collection are housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have 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

Syracuse University: Individuals Collection

Syracuse University: Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women Collection

Syracuse University: Remembrance Quilt Collection

Selected Search Terms

Names

Astrada, Walter
Black, Matt
Blanding, Melanie
Bleasdale, Marcus
Borton, Aaron
Bradner, Heidi
Buchalter, Jessa
Dago, Jan
Etter, Daniel
Fehder, Jeffrey
Gárdi, Balázs, 1975-
Hacker, Kerstin
Hall, Kari René
Hornstein, Lisa
Kjellstrand, Torsten
Kleinhenz, Laura
Kuwayama, Teru
Law, Wesley
Lemoyne, Roger, 1954-
Liu, Xin
Maple, Elisa
Martin, Ian, 1972-
Mason, Lawrence, 1952-
Mason, Tom
Nahmiyaz, Medi
Padilla, Darcy
Peattie, Peggy
Read, Tory
Schultz, Erika
Sinclair, Stephanie
Talbott, Jay
Tsairis, Alexia Kathryn
Vitale, Ami
Voninski, Tamara
Wells, David H.
Wiedenhöfer, Kai
Zizola, Francesco, 1962-
Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing Incident, 1988.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States -- Case Studies.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States -- History.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States.
Terrorism -- History -- 20th Century.
Lockerbie (Scotland)

Types of Material

Correspondence.
Photographs.

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

The Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection was donated by Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis in 2014 and 2015.

Processing Information

The Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection is fully processed.

Arrangement

Materials in the Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection are arranged alphabetically within each series, with the exception of the Photographs series. These materials are housed chronologically by award year, then alphabetically by recipient's last name. Sample images from each recipient, story proposals, and any other accompanying paperwork are immediately available.

Table of Contents

Awards

Clippings

Correspondence

Exhibits and Seminars

Memorabilia

Photographs

Printed Material

Subject Files

Inventory