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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


Finding aid created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: March 2015

Biography

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.

Alexia Foundation Logo

Alexia's legacy and passion for photography live on through the Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding. The Alexia Foundation was founded in 1991 by her parents, Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis, and David Sutherland in partnership with Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, where Alexia had been a student. 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 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, over 170 photojournalists have been recognized with awards by The Alexia, with funding totaling over 1.7 million dollars.

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 Tsairis Family subseries includes the personal correspondence of Alexia's parents with Syracuse University, and the Syracuse University Archives, as well as general correspondence.

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

Personal belongings contains 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. Also present are yearbooks from Alexia's junior high and high school, her schoolwork and scrapbooks, and personal effects returned from the Pan Am Flight 103 crash site.

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.

Subject files contains files related to Syracuse University's study abroad program, the return of 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. This series also 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?"

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.

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 Kathryn Tsairis Family Papers. Related collections include:

Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection

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 -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. -- Syracuse Abroad.

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)
College students.
Photographers.
Photojournalists.

Types of Material

Application forms.
Booklets.
Brochures.
Buttons (information artifacts)
Caps (headgear)
Cards (information artifacts)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Contact sheets.
Correspondence.
Identifying artifacts.
Memorabilia.
Negatives (photographs)
Photographs.
Placards (information artifacts)
Posters.
Scrapbooks.
Slides (photographs)
Typescripts.

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 2023, and Elizabeth Root in 2011.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid free folders and boxes.

Arrangement

Correspondence is arranged chronologically. All other materials are arranged alphabetically.

Table of Contents

Correspondence

Memorials

Personal belongings

Photographs

Subject files

Inventory