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Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers

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

Summary

Creator: Tsairis, Alexia Kathryn.
Title: Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers
Dates: 1975-2015; Undated
Size: 8 linear feet
Abstract: Materials related to Alexia Tsairis, one of 35 Syracuse University students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland
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

Photograph of Alexia Kathryn Tsairis

Alexia Kathryn Tsairis (1968-1988) 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.


Alexia Foundation Logo

Alexia's legacy and passion for photography live on through the Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding, founded in 1991 by Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis, and 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 Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection here at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives.

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Scope and Content Note

The Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers contains materials related to Alexia Tsairis, one of 35 Syracuse University students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Collection materials include Alexia's photography, personal effects, and memorabilia from high school and college. Also included are clippings and other materials associated with the aftermath of the bombing. Additional materials related to Alexia, her life and legacy can be found in the Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection. The Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers has been divided into the following series:

Correspondence is divided into two subseries. The Alexia Tsairis subseries contains Alexia's personal incoming and outgoing correspondence from high school and college. The Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis subseries includes the personal correspondence of Alexia's parents with Syracuse University, and the Syracuse University Archives.

Memorabilia contains two subseries. The first of these, the Alexia Tsairis subseries, houses items that belonged to Alexia. Included are commemorative pins, her high school graduation cap and tassel, and her Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women baseball cap. The Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis subseries contains a protest placard featuring an image of the December 23, 1988 front page of The Daily Mail bearing the headline "Why Weren't They Told?"

Memorials includes correspondence, writings, printed materials, and service programs for the funeral and memorial services of Alexia Tsairis.

Photographs of Alexia, and her personal photography comprise the bulk of this collection. This series includes prints of many of the photographs taken by Alexia during her semester in London, as well as several examples of photography from her S.I. Newhouse coursework. Also included is a self-portrait, taken shortly before her departure for study abroad.

Printed material includes yearbooks from Alexia's junior high and high schools.

Subject files consists of two subseries. The Alexia Tsairis subseries contains her schoolwork and scrapbooks, as well as personal effects returned from the crash site of Pan Am Flight 103. The Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis subseries contains files related to the return Alexia's personal effects, Peter and Aphrodite's participation in victims' groups, and a visit they made to see Alexia in London during her semester abroad. Please note some materials in this collection contain outdated terminology and potentially harmful language. The language contained in these materials was prevalent at the time of their creation, although no less potentially harmful than today. The materials are preserved and presented for their historic and research value.

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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.

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Selected Search Terms

Names

Tsairis family.
Tsairis, Alexia Kathryn.
Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing Incident, 1988.
Photojournalism.
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

Photographs.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis between 2009 and 2015.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid free folders and boxes.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: March 2015
Revision history: January 2016 - Inventory added, Scope and Content expanded (VSOM); Aug 2023 - Scope and Content updated (VSOM)

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Arrangement

Individual series are arranged in chronological or alphabetical order as appropriate. Subseries have been created as necessary.

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Inventory

Correspondence
Alexia Tsairis
Box 1 General undated
Box 1 High school - freshman year 1982-1986, undated
Box 1 High school - sophomore year 1983-1984, undated
Box 1 High school - senior year 1985-1986, undated
Box 1 College - freshman year 1986-1987, undated
Box 1 College - sophomore year 1987-1988, undated
Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis
Box 1 Syracuse University February 1989
Box 1 Syracuse University Archives 1990-1998, undated
Memorabilia
Alexia Tsairis
Box 1 Class of '86 pillow 1986
Box 1 High school graduation cap and tassel 1986
Box 2 Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women baseball cap c.1988
Box 2 Pins 1986, undated
Box 2 Ron Guidry signed photograph 1987
Box 2 Syracuse University women's 1987 volleyball ornament undated
Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis
Oversize Box 3 "Why weren't they told?" protest placard undated
Memorials
Box 2 General 1988-2011, undated (2 folders)
Oversize Box 2 Syracuse University registration poster honoring students killed on Pan Am Flight 103 2003
Photographs
Box 2 "Alexia's trip to Greece for study/fun" undated
Box 2 Contact sheets undated
Oversize Box 1 Contact sheets and negatives binder undated
Box 2 Contact sheets and notes undated
Early photographs undated
Box 2 Standard prints
Oversize Box 2 Oversize
Oversize Box 3 Large format (3 folders)
Oversize Box 3 Final assignment - London photography class Fall 1988
Box 2 Jersey shore and hurricane damage undated
Box 2 Jesse Jackson at Syracuse University undated
Box 2 Junior year of high school undated
London prints undated
Oversize Box 2 Oversize
Oversize Box 3 Large format
Box 2 Miscellaneous photographs undated
Box 3 Photo book scans Fall 1988
Scanned while on loan from Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis, September 2009
Oversize Box 3 Photograph of young girl and birds (donated by Elizabeth Root) undated
Box 3 Photographs from coursework at S.I. Newhouse School, Syracuse University undated
Box 3 "Photos of Syracuse proper and Syracuse University. Award earned from one of these photos in a frame." undated (2 folders)
Box 3 "Photos taken by Alexia from rooftop building on the East River of Manhattan of the Macy's 4th of July fireworks" July 4, 1988
Oversize Box 2 Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women composite 1988
Box 3 Ramapo High School volleyball 1984, 1986
Box 3 Self portrait 1988
Box 3 Senior prom May 1986
Box 3 Some family photographs May 1988, undated
Box 3 South Carolina undated
Syracuse and London Fall 1988, June 1990, undated
Box 3 Standard prints (2 folders)
Oversize Box 2 Oversize (2 folders)
Oversize Box 3 Large format (2 folders)
Box 3 Syracuse Ambulance Corps story for S.I. Newhouse School, Syracuse University coursework February 1988
Box 4 Syracuse photograph taken by Alexia undated
Oversize Box 2 Syracuse University women's volleyball team undated
Box 4 Thanksgiving family story 1987
Printed material
Box 4 Tenafly Middle School yearbook 1982
Box 4 Tenafly High School yearbook 1983
Box 4 Ramapo High School yearbook 1986
Box 4 Syracuse University freshman register 1988
Subject files
Alexia Tsairis
Box 4 College - freshman year 1986-1987, undated
Box 4 General writings undated
Box 5 High school diploma June 25, 1986
Box 5 High school miscellaneous 1983-1986, undated
Box 5 Journal calendar 1982
Box 5 Journal calendar 1983
Box 5 Personal effects returned from Lockerbie December 1988-July 1989
Box 5 Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women April 1988
Box 5 Posthumous certificate of student achievement, S.I. Newhouse School, Syracuse University undated
Box 5 Résumé, photo award, and photo critique April 1988, undated
Box 5 School assignments 1982-1988
Oversize Box 1 Scrapbook 1975, undated
Box 5 Volleyball sophomore year (Syracuse University) 1986-1988
Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis
Box 5 London trip November 1988, undated
Box 5 Pan Am 103 January-April 1989, undated
Box 5 Return of Alexia's personal effects February-June 1989

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