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May 4th Task Force records
Special Collections and Archives
May 4th Task Force records
Special Collections and Archives
May 4th Task Force records
- Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
- Title: May 4th Task Force records
- Inclusive Date(s): 1975-2018
- Bulk Date(s): 2005-2009
- Author: Finding aid prepared by Penny White, December 2011.
- Creation: Finding aid encoded by Penny White using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2011
- Origination: Kent State University. May 4th Task Force
- Extent: 1.5 cubic feet (1 record storage box + 1 flat oversized box + oversized folders)
- Physical Location: 12th floor (May 4 Collection, Boxes 25 and 25A)
- Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0132
- Abstract: This collection consists of materials that document the proceedings of Kent State University student organization, the May 4th Task Force. Materials in this collection include minutes and financial records, as well as news clippings and event materials pertaining to the annual May 4 Commemoration and additional events of the Task Force.
- Revision(s):
- January 2013 - Updated
- January 2017 - Revised and Updated
- Language(s): The records are in English
History of the May 4th Task Force
Founded in October of 1975, the student-run May 4th Task Force (M4TF, sometimes called the "May 4 Task Force") was developed in response to the Kent State University administration's decision to halt university-sponsored funding of the annual May 4 Commemoration. As a result, the group has since sponsored, organized and produced events for the annual commemoration. Since its inception, the May 4th Task Force has sought to support the families affected by the Kent State Shootings of May 4, 1970 by providing educational programming and raising awareness about the event and its impact.
Scope and Content
The collection is comprised of correspondence, event materials, clippings and publications, and other organizational records.
Statement of Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series and sub-series. Within each series, material is organized chronologically.
- Series 1: Correspondence
- Series 2: Event Materials
- Subseries 1: Event Flyers
- Subseries 2: Event Posters
- Subseries 3: Vigil Books
- Series 3: Clippings
- Series 4: Organizational Materials
- Subseries 1: Brochures, Guidelines, Statements of Purpose
- Subseries 2: Financial Records
- Subseries 3: Minutes
- Series 5: Publications
- Series 6: Artifacts
Separated Material
Largely involved in the execution of the Annual May 4 Commemoration events, additional information on the May 4th Task Force can be found in the Annual Commemoration records of the May 4 Collection. The May 4 Memorabilia and Artifacts collection contains buttons relating to the organization and its events.
Related Material
The Craig Blazinski papers include records from the May 4th Task Force from 1977-1979.
Processing Information
This collection has been processed to allow for future growth.
Restrictions on Access
Some information included in this collection is restricted due to the presence of information protected by privacy laws. This information has been redacted where present on documents in the collection. Un-redacted originals, in all cases, have been retained by Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
May 4th Task Force records. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Acquisition Information
Early information in the collection was compiled by Special Collections and Archives as material was received by a variety of sources. In 2008, former Task Force president, Sarah Lund-Goldstein, placed a number of records of the organization in Special Collections and Archives. Additions were made In 2011 by former Task Force president Stephanie Vincent.
Accruals
Additional materials are added to the May 4th Task Force records on a continual basis.
Subject Headings
The following subjects are found in this collection:
- Subjects:
- Kent State University. May 4th Task Force--Archives
- Kent State Shootings, Kent, Ohio, 1970--Anniversaries, etc.
- Kent State Shootings, Kent, Ohio, 1970
- College students--Political activity
- College students--Associations, institutions, etc.
- Kent State University--History
- Kent (Ohio)--History
- Functions:
- Committees--Management
- Occupations:
- College students
- Material Types:
- Correspondence
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Minutes
- Fliers (printed material)
- Financial records
- Programs
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Correspondence, 1975-2008
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 1975-1976
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 1977
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 1978
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 1989
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 1990
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 1992
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 1996
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 1997
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 2002
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 2006
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 2007
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, 2008
- Box 25
- M4TF: Correspondence, undated
Series 2: Events, 1975-2018
Subseries 1: Event Files, 1975-2018
- Scope and Content
- Event files include schedules, flyers, leaflets, notes, and other materials related to Task Force events.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1975
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1976
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1977
- Box 25
- M4TF Events, 1978
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1979
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1986-1987
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1987-1988
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1989-1990
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1990-1991
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1992-1993
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1993-1994
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1996-1997
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1997-1998
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 1999-2000
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 2005-2006
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 2006-2007
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 2007-2008
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 2008-2009
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 2012
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, 2018
- Box 25
- M4TF: Events, undated
Subseries 2: Event Posters, 1975-1991
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "Murder at Kent 1970", December 1, 1975
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
- Scope and Content
- From poster: "find out the truth from victims...lawyers...parents...and others; films Confrontation at Kent; Kent State, May 1970..."
- Processing Information
- Year of this event was supplied through a search of the Daily Kent Stater.
- Related Material
- Box 96, Item 81 of the May 4 Collection is an audio recording of this event.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "The Truth about Kent State Decide for Yourself", March 9, 1976
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
- Processing Information
- There is a handwritten year of 1976 on poster, but year of event is uncertain.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "The Truth Demands Justice", May 3-4, 1976
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
-
Physical Description: 2 copies.
- Scope and Content
- From poster: "May 3-4, 1976." Includes schedule of events for those dates.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "The Truth Demands Justice", November 30, 1976
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
-
Physical Description: 2 copies.
- Scope and Content
- From poster: "Case lawyer and wounded students, films 'Kent State 1970' and 'Confrontation at Kent State,' November 30."
- Processing Information
- There is a hand-written date on this poster of 1976, but year of event is uncertain.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "The Truth Demands Justice", March 7, 1977
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
- Scope and Content
- From poster: "Speakers from the "Kent 25" Bill Arthrell and Ken Hammond and film 'Kent State 1970,' March 7"
- Processing Information
- Year of this event was supplied through a search of the Daily Kent Stater.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "The Truth Demands Justice", May 3-4, 1977
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
- Scope and Content
- Poster lists scheduled events for May 3-4, 1977 with featured speakers and events including Dr. Gene Sharp, Candlelight March and Vigil, Dick Gregory, William Kunstler, Ron Kovic, Stokely Carmichael, Workshops, and a "Truth Demands Justice" March.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: Hearts and Minds film screening with speaker Tim Butz, February 28, 1978
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
-
Physical Description: 2 copies.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: Hearts and Minds film screening, February 28, 1978, March 1, 1978
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "The Truth about Kent State May 4, 1970", November 29, 1978
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
-
Physical Description: 2 copies.
- Processing Information
- There is a hand-written date on this poster of 1978, but year of event is uncertain.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "Kent State May 4, 1970...The day the war came home!", December 12, 1979
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
-
Physical Description: 2 copies.
- Scope and Content
- From poster: "A ten year review featuring Tom Grace."
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: "The Evening After, Looking to the Future", May 4, 1990
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
- Scope and Content
- From poster: "Kent State 20 years later; World film premiere, Letter to the Next Generation; Holly Near, song writer/singer; Redbird on the Rise - Latino Rapper."
- Box 25
- M4TF: Poster: Willy Porter concert, May 4, 1991
- Physical Location: Filed in map case.
- Scope and Content
- From poster: "and Sean Kay and the Flying Locomotives; May 4 Commemoration Concert."
- Processing Information
- Year of this event was supplied through a search of the Daily Kent Stater.
Subseries 3: Vigil Books, 1989-2007
- Scope and Content
- Vigil Books are sign-up books for the candlelight vigil coordinated annually by the Task Force as part of its commemoration events.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Vigil Book, 1989-1990
- Box 25
- M4TF: Vigil Book, 1994-1995
- Box 25
- M4TF: Vigil Book, 1995-1996
- Box 25
- M4TF: Vigil Book, 1996-1997
- Box 25
- M4TF: Vigil Book, 1997-1998
- Box 25
- M4TF: Vigil Book, 2006-2007
Series 3: Clippings, 1975-2009
- Scope and Content
- Includes clippings by/about the May 4th Task Force. Includes press releases.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 1975-1976
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 1987
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 1990
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 1996
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 2005
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 2006
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 2007
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 2008
- Box 25
- M4TF: Clippings, 2009
Series 4: Organizational Records, 1990-2009
Subseries 1: Brochures, Guidelines, Statements of Purpose, 1977-2009
- Scope and Content
- This subseries includes documents that reflect the purpose, mission, and operational guidelines of the Task Force. Included are Student Organization Registration forms that Kent State requires to be completed for any registered student organization. These forms have primarily been retained because they include names of officers and advisors, and, often, statements of purpose for the organization.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Brochures, Guidelines, Statements of Purpose, 1977-2009
Subseries 2: Financial Records, 1991-2008
- Scope and Content
- This subseries primarily contains applications for funding for various events of the Task Force. Also included are a few student activity fee allocation statements.
- Box 25
- Financial Records, 1991-1992
- Box 25
- Financial Records, 1992-1993
- Box 25
- Financial Records, 1993-1994
- Box 25
- Financial Records, 1996-1997
- Box 25
- Financial Records, 1999-2000
- Box 25
- Financial Records, 2006-2007
- Box 25
- Financial Records, 2007-2008
Subseries 3: Minutes, 2006-2009
- Box 25
- Minutes, 2006-2007
- Box 25
- Minutes, 2007-2008
- Box 25
- Minutes, 2008-2009
Series 5: Publications, 1977
- Box 25
- M4TF: "The Truth Demands Justice", 1976
-
Physical Description: 16 pages.
- Scope and Content
- Printed memorial booklet containing poetry, photographs, artwork, and quotations.
- Box 25
- M4TF: "Chronological Summary of the May 4th Court Cases", 1977
- Box 25
- M4TF: "Chronology - Kent, Ohio - May 1-4, 1970", 1977
- Box 25
- M4TF: "Chronology of HPER Facility Planning and May 4 Coalition", 1977
- Box 25
- M4TF: "May 4, 1977", 1977
-
Physical Description: 16 pages.
- Scope and Content
- Printed memorial booklet poetry, photographs, and a letter from Peter Davies.
- Box 25
- M4TF: "In Memorium...", 1978
-
Physical Description: 16 pages.
- Scope and Content
- Printed memorial booklet containing biographical information on the students killed on May 4, 1970, poetry, and photographs.
- Box 25
- M4TF: "Position Paper Concerning Past Disruptions...", April 16, 1980
-
Physical Description: 5-page typescript (2 copies)
- Scope and Content
- Full title: "May 4th Task Force Position Paper Concerning Past Disruptions and Our Sincere Intention to Ensure a Completely Peaceful Commemoration of the Tenth Anniversary of the May 4th Massacre."
- Box 25
- M4TF: "25 Years After", 1995
-
Physical Description: 16-page booklet with illustrated and content-filled paper wrappers.
- Scope and Content
- 25th Commemoration Program. Includes photographs, poetry, chronologies, and other commemorative content related to the 25th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.
- Box 25
- M4TF: Flyers, undated
Series 6: Artifacts, undated
- Box 25
- M4TF: Armband: "Move the Gym", undated
- Box 25A
- M4TF: Banner: "No War for Oil", undated
-
Physical Description: Orange cloth with black lettering.
