May 4 Art collection

May 4 Collection - Boxes 136, 137, 138, 138A, 139

Finding Aid

Prepared by Virginia Dressler, February 22, 2007. Updated by Penny White, July 2013. Last Updated: November 2023

Inclusive Dates: 1967-2021
Extent: 26 cubic feet (2 half-size record storage boxes, 1 slim document box, 10 flat oversized boxes, 7 oversized folders, oversized art works of varying sizes)
Physical Location: 11th and 12th floors; May 4 Resource Room, University Library 1st floor

Historical Note: The events and aftermath of the Kent State shootings have inspired and informed artistic works in many media and forms. Some artists produced works that reflected their personal feelings or responded to the political climate of the time, while other works were used as educational tools.

Scope and Content: This collection is primarily comprised of works of visual art related to the Kent State shootings.

Restrictions on Use: These materials are copyrighted by their respective creators.

Sponsor: Digitization of this collection was funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Related Material

• Musical works related to the Kent State shootings are included in the Music Related to the Kent State Shootings collection.
• See also the separate visual art collections: Workshop on Large-Scale Enameling and Simple Gestures installation.
• Materials pertaining to the "Abraham and Isaac" sculpture by George Segal, located at Princeton University, may be found in Box 90 of the May 4 Collection.
• Poetry written in relation to the Kent State shootings is found in the May 4 Poetry collection.
• The Linda Lyke papers include three collograph prints by Lyke that were created in response to the shootings.

May 4 Collection - Box 136
Contents

1. Halem, Henry, "Blind Justice," 1971
   Physical Description: Ceramic, two faces with covers over the eyes.
   Processing Note: Title of this work is uncertain as it was previously listed as "Ravenna Grand Jury II," but which is believed to have been erroneously applied to this work. Administrative files indicate that "Blind Justice" may be the title of this work.
   Related Materials: See Box 139 for additional art work by Halem.

May 4 Collection - Box 137
Contents

1. Halem, Henry, "Ravenna Grand Jury III", 1971
   Physical Description: Ceramic, face with cover over the eyes.
   Related Materials: See Box 139 for additional art work by Halem.

May 4 Collection - Box 138
Contents

1. Kusnir, John Paul. "May 4 Evermore," 1986
   Physical Description: Mobile of natural artifacts including shells, driftwood, feathers, pods. Hanging length of approximately 30 inches.
   Acquisitions Information: Donated by Clara Jackson, May 23, 1986.
   Restrictions on Access: Please note that this item is extremely fragile. It should not be removed from its box unless absolutely necessary. Access is provided via digital surrogate or viewing item within its container only.
   Related Materials: See Box 139 for additional information on this work and the artist.

May 4 Collection - Box 138A
Contents

1. Miller, Jeffrey and Sandra Scheuer. "Who Is To Say?" 1970
   Physical Description: Crayon drawing on paper, 8.5 X 11 inches. Miller and Scheuer created this drawing together approximately two weeks before the shootings on May 4, 1970, in which they both were killed. Accompanied by a written narrative by Janice Reinstein Stone.
   Acquisition Information: Donated by Janice Reinstein Stone in 2007.

May 4 Collection - Box 139
Contents

1. Albert, John Joseph. "From Darkness, Light, From Death Life/Christmas Rose," March 27, 2002
   Physical Description: Painting on paper.
   Physical Location: Filed in map case.
2. Bates, Candace. "Peace: Learn It, Live It, Teach It," 2000
   Physical Description: Mixed media painting on canvas. 36 inches X 48 inches.
   Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
3. Bertram, Gene (G.M.). "Ohio National Guard Parody of Rembrandt's, The Night Watch," undated
   Scope and Content: Oil painting paralleling Rembrandt's painting, "The Night Watch", depicition of local militia and the National Guardsmen on Kent State University's campus on May 4, 1970.
   Physical Description: Oil painting on panel, 19 inches x 24 inches.
   Physical Location: Painting is shelved on the 11th floor
   Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2020 by Gene Bertram.
4. Burton, James. "Untitled," undated
   Scope and Content: Framed painting based on John Filo's photograph of Mary Ann Vecchio over the body of Jeffrey Miller and accompanying artist statement.
   Physical Description: Framed painting, 16-3/4 inches x 19-1/2 inches.
   Physical Location: Painting is shelved on the 11th floor
   Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2020 by James Burton.
5. Dales, Richard. "4 Dead in Ohio," 1970
   Physical Description: Metal sculpture, including rifle barrel with flower.
   Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
6. di Donato, Jose E. Memorial sculpture, 1978
   Physical Description: Color sketch on paper.
   Scope and Content: A proposed memorial sculpture. Includes correspondence from diDonato and Brage Golding.
7. Drawings by students from Wilkes-Barre (PA) Middle School, 1996
   Scope and Content: Includes letter from teacher providing background on the drawings.
   Physical Location: Oversized items from this folder are filed in the map case.
8. Dunfee, Elizabeth Ann (Gibbs). "Mourning After," 1970
   Scope and Content:  Elizabeth Ann (Gibbs) Dunfee was a Kent State University art student at the time of the shootings.  The morning after May 4, 1970, she began to paint this work using oils and acrylics, completing it in the months to follow.
   Physical Description: Mixed-media painting on canvas, 35.5 inches by 38 inches.  Restored in 2020, by Andrea Chevalier, Senior Paintings Conservator of the Intermuseum Conservation Association.  
   Physical Location: Painting is shelved on the 11th floor.
   Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2021 by Lisa Kreeger-Norman.
9. Dunfee, Elizabeth Ann (Gibbs). "Mourning After: 50 Years Later" Video Interviews, 2021
   Scope and Content:  DVD containing six video clips of Andrea Chevalier, Dennis Dunfee, Greg Norman, and Lisa Kreeger-Norman, as they discuss the background of Elizabeth Ann (Gibbs) Dunfee's artwork, and details of its restoration, fifty years later.  The filming took place at the Intermuseum Conservation Association in 2021.  Includes an accompanying transcript of video interviews. 
   Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2021 by Lisa Kreeger-Norman.
   Alternative Form Available:  This recording has been digitally captured. There is also a DVD copy available for reference access to this recording.
10. Enckler, Terry. "Kent State," September 1970
    Physical Description: Oil painting, 36 inches x 46 inches.
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2011 by Joseph Cala.
11. Goist, Barbara Nelson. "May 4, 1970 Kent State University," 1970
    Scope and Content: Upon Kent State's temporary closure in May 1970, the artist, Barbara Nelson was given an assignment to create a work of art, in order to graduate and receive her BFA. From her home in New Jersey, Barbara created a woodcut that was sent to the art department, securing her degree. 
    Physical Description: Woodcut print relief with Speedball Block Printing ink. Print depicts the State of Ohio, American flag, duck symbols, and human figures. 22.5 inches x 15 inches.
    Physical Location: Filed in map case.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2023 by David and Barbara Goist.
12. Halem, Henry. "Kent State May 4, 1970 Allison, Jeff, Bill, Sandy," 1971
    Scope and Content: Mounted wall piece made of fiberglass.  Painted fiberglass depicts the American flag with the faces of the four students killed on May 4, 1970.  Each cast face includes a bullet wound and the name of one of the four students. 
    Physical Description: Painted fiberglass wall piece. Approximately 19 inches by 34 inches.
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2020 by Henry Halem.
13. Halem, Henry. "Kent State, May 4, 1970 Four Dead in Ohio," 1971
    Scope and Content:  The artist used a style of creation he called "life castings" where he depicted the Kent State State shootings using plaster body molds from volunteers, Nick Delmatto, Linda Lyke, Russell O'Brien, and Lynette Janke. The figures represent the four students killed on May 4, 1970.  The body casts were used to create full-sized figures in fiberglass, which were tinted to resemeble a bone-like color. The final display includes artificial turf grass for the "bodies" to lie on and an audio recording of gunshots with the word, "fire," being repeated on a continuous loop.  A video recording was later created in 2020 as a replacement to the original footage used by the artist. The video includes various photographs from May 4, 1970 and the audio used in the recording.  The art installation is accompanied by the audio recording, video recording, document depicting the installation of this artwork, and a brief artist's statement, filed in Box 139. 
    Physical Description: Art Installation (Four life size cast figures and artificial turf grass.)
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2020 by Henry Halem.
    Alternative Form Available:  The audio recording and video recording have been digitally captured. There is also a CD and DVD copy available for reference access to this recording.
14. Hamilton, Richard. "Kent State," 1970
    Scope and Content: Screen print on paper by English artist, Richard Hamilton. Hamilton's screen print was made using a photograph of a television screen during a BBC news broadcast on May 4, 1970.
    Physical Description: Screen print on paper, 28.5 inches x 40 inches. It contains Richard Hamilton's signature and is numbered 1440/5000.  Authentication stamp imprinted on lower right corner. 
    Physical Location: Filed in Oversized Map Case.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2020 by Ginger Hayne, in honor of Kent State alumna, Clementine Hayne.
    Restrictions on Access: This file is protected by copyright and cannot be published online at this time.
15. Hartig, Al. "Kent State 1970," May 5/6, 1970
    Historical Note: See Daily Kent Stater, May 8, 1974, page 11, for a brief article on the circumstances of this painting's arrival on campus.
    Physical Description: Oil painting on wood, framed. 36 inches X 48 inches. Also included are four sketches, a clipping, and correspondence related to the painting.
    Physical Location: Painting is shelved on the 11th floor.
16. Haynie, Hugh, Editorial cartoon, 1970
    Scope and Content: Depicts four dead students on the ground with caption "...And in the Ever-widening Jungle War, U.S. Troops Pushed Forward, Inflicting Heavy Casualties." This piece ran in the Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky.
    Physical Description: Mounted enlarged facsimile of cartoon, inscribed to Dean Keller by the artist.
    Physical Location: Filed in map case.
17. Ikaris, Nikolas. "Ikaris sculpture," 1977
    Physical Description: Mixed media sculpture with metal peace sign affixed.
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
18. Klein, N. "Untitled," undated
    Physical Description: Mixed media (collage, paint), masonite mounted on plywood. 48 inches X 96 inches.
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
19. Kusnir, John Paul. Clippings, CV, and program, 1982; 1985; undated
    Related Materials: See Box 138 for a mobile created by Kusnir.
    Note: Kusnir's name is spelled incorrectly in the program in this file.
20. Parch (?). "Untitled," undated
    Physical Description: Painting on canvas depicting the Pagoda with four red flowers in foreground. 30 inches X 36 inches.
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
21. Podwal, Mark, "Kent State," 2003
    Physical Description: Ink drawing.
    Physical Location: Filed in map case.
22. Rowlands, Tom, "USA," 1967
    Scope and Content: Brown Professor, Richard A. Ellis, acquired this piece of artwork by American artist, Tom Rowlands, where the title has been referred to by the donors as "Kent State Massacre."
    Physical Description: Oil on canvas, 34" x 40". Framed 35" x 41". Signed and dated lower right "Rowlands '67'". The bottom of the canvas says "Atwater Kent."
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2017 by Dr. Pavel Farkas and Professor Richard A. Ellis.
23. Thomas-Topping, Maggie. "Kent State," 1970
    Scope and Content: Painting on canvas entitled, "Kent State," by artist, Maggie Thomas-Topping. The painting depicts styling of the United States of America's flag, with a dark blue silhouette of a slain student held by another student, surrounded by soliders. There are four circular Kent State University seals, mimicking bullet holes. 
    Physical Description: Oil painting on wood framed canvas. 4' X 4'. 
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th floor.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2021 by Meg Quinlisk. 
24. Weprin, Audrey. Grand Jury Trial sketches, 1974
    Scope and Content: Pastel sketches of the 1974 grand jury trial by CBS courtroom artist, Audrey Weprin. 
    Physical Description: Thirty-two pastel sketches.
    Physical Location: Filed in Map Case.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2016 by Audrey Weprin.
25. Zinsmeister Parker, Patricia. "Remembering Kent State, May 4th, 1970," 2017
    Physical Description: Mixed media painting on canvas depicting young girl. 48 inches by 36 inches.
    Physical Location: Shelved on the 11th Floor.
    Acquisitions Note: Donated in 2021 by Patricia Zinsmeister Parker.

Artworks located in May 4 Resource Room, University Library, 1st floor

1. Kovic, Ron. “Kent State, April 15, 1998," 1998
   Physical Description: Painting, mixed media with American flag attached as part of the work. 60-15/16 inches X 48 -7/8 inches.
   Scope and Content: On verso of painting: “To the students of Kent State University of the Fifteenth Day of April 1998 with love and hope for everlasting peace I give this painting to you as a gift so that the memory of that day will never be forgotten. Love and peace, Ron Kovic, 1998.”
2. Abel, Theodore (Ted) L. "Memorial Windows, May 4th, 1970: A Living Memorial," 1978
   Physical Description: Four stained glass panels. Each panel: 44-7/8 inches X 38-7/8 inches.
   Related Materials: Additional information about this work, including an artist's statement, can be found in the May 4 Resource Room papers.
3. “Tower of Babel," 1995
   Physical Description: Intaglio print. 78-1/4 inches X 114-3/4 inches.
   Origination: This work was created collaboratively by Kent State University graduate and undergraduate printmaking students of Professor J. Noel Reifel.