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Finding aid created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: March 2015
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| January 2016 | Inventory added, Scope and Content expanded (VSOM) |
| Aug 2023 | Scope and Content updated (VSOM) |
Summary |
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| 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 |
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'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.
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.
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.
The Pan Am Flight 103 Archives contains additional materials and information related to the Alexia Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers. Related collections include:
Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection
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
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.
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.
Individual series are arranged in chronological or alphabetical order as appropriate. Subseries have been created as necessary.
Correspondence
Memorabilia
Memorials
Photographs
Printed material
Subject files
| 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 | ||||||||||