Dark Elegy Collection
An inventory of the collection at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at Syracuse University
Summary |
|
| Creator: | Lowenstein, Suse. |
| Title: | Dark Elegy Collection |
| Dates: | 1995-2015 |
| Size: | 1.25 linear feet |
| Abstract: | Materials relating to the exhibition of Suse Lowenstein's Dark Elegy sculpture collection on Syracuse University's campus |
| 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 |
Historical Note
Dark Elegy is a sculpture collection created by Suse Lowenstein (b. 1944), mother of Syracuse University student and victim of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, Alexander Lowenstein. It consists of 75 larger-than-life individual sculptures depicting women at the moment they learned their loved one had been killed in Pan Am Flight 103. The statues are typically arranged in a circular pattern about 65 feet in diameter but have also been rearranged for display at different temporary sites. The artist's goal is to donate the work for display in a public place where anyone may view it. The sculptures are currently located in the garden of the Lowenstein's Montauk property, available for public viewing.
Although Suse's personal tragedy arose from the bombing of Pan Am 103, she has dedicated Dark Elegy to all victims of terrorism. In her own words, "this sculpture needs no language, it is understood by all. It is not political in any partisan sense. It knows no borders. Today, people all over the world are affected by terrorism. Dark Elegy is a universal appeal for peace and dignity for all victims of senseless hate and vengeance called terrorism and will be a beacon for all peace-loving people. Dark Elegy stands as a reminder of that hatred."
Scope and Content Note
The Dark Elegy Collection contains six series relating to the exhibition of the statues on the campus of Syracuse University during the 1995-1996 academic year and the subsequent effort to find a permanent home for Dark Elegy.
Within the Audiovisual materials series is a DVD with an eight-minute video from Suse Lowenstein on Dark Elegy.
The Clippings series contains newspaper clippings from 1990 to 2008 about the creation and exhibition of Dark Elegy.
Internal Syracuse University correspondence as well as external communications with Suse Lowenstein and others can be found in the Correspondence series.
The Photographs series contains photographs of the exhibition of Dark Elegy on Syracuse University's campus during the 1995-1996 academic year.
Within the Printed material series are fliers, announcements, programs, and other visual materials about Dark Elegy exhibitions and the search for its permanent home.
The Subject files series has materials on various topics related to the exhibition of Dark Elegy. These topics include the opening and closing events for the 1995-1996 Syracuse University campus exhibition, lectures and speakers' notes, and the Syracuse University College of Law symposium on international terrorism.
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.
School, college and department records are restricted to the office of origin for 30 years. Requests to use restricted records must be obtained in writing from the office of origin.
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 Dark Elegy Collection. Related collections include:
Pan Am Flight 103 Audiovisual Collection
Pan Am 103 Clippings Collection
Pan Am 103 College of Law Collection
Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers
Selected Search Terms
Names
Associated Titles
Subjects
Types of material
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Dark Elegy Collection,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Transferred from the Office of Undergraduate Studies in 1996 and the Office of Institutional Advancement in 2016.
Processing Information
Materials were placed in acid-free folders and archival boxes.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Cara A. Howe
Date: 2012
Revision history: Mar 2015 - Errors corrected; stylistic changes (VSOM);
Jul 2016 - New accessions added (VSOM);
Mar 2018 - Stylistic changes (VSOM);
May 2023 - One folder of materials added to the Printed material series; finding
aid updated (HVA);
Oct 2024 - Materials added to box 1 and stylistic changes made (HL)
Inventory
| Audiovisual materials | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Dark elegy: remembering the moment: terrorism's legacy undated (2 copies) DVD | ||||||||||
| Clippings | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | General 1990, 1995-1996, 2005, 2008 | ||||||||||
| Photographs | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | General 1995, undated | ||||||||||
| Printed material | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Announcements and fliers 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Dark elegy: experience the memorial undated | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Permanent home circa 2006-2007, 2015 | ||||||||||
| Subject files | |||||||||||
| RESTRICTED: The contents of Box 3 of this collection are restricted. School, college and department records are restricted to the office of origin for 30 years. Requests to use restricted records must be obtained in writing from the office of origin. | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Booklet 1995-1996 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Booklet, materials not used 1995-1996 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Booklet, planning 1995-1996 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Dark elegy at Rutgers University 1996-1997 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Final tribute to Dark elegy January 1996-March 1996 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Final tribute to Dark elegy, internal January 1996-March 1996 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Final tribute to Dark elegy, Alexia Foundation for World Peace 1996 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Guest book from the opening ceremony 23-24 September 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | International terrorism: prevention and remedies, Syracuse University
College of Law symposium 27 October 1995
(2 folders)
International Terrorism: Prevention and Remedies, College of Law Symposium |
||||||||||
| Box 3 | Lecture by Suse Lowenstein October-November 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Media 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Media, internal 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | National Capital Advisory Commission, permanent home 2008 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | National Capital Advisory Commission, permanent home, internal 2008 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Opening ceremony August 1995-September 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Opening ceremony August 1995-September 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Publicity folders 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Removal of the sculptures May 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Speeches at opening ceremony 24 September 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Steering committee 1994-1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Steering committee project requests 1995 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Suse Lowenstein, sculptor 1994-1995 | ||||||||||
