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Laura Davis May 4 papers
Special Collections and Archives
Laura Davis May 4 papers
Special Collections and Archives
Laura Davis May 4 papers
- Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
- Title: Laura Davis May 4 papers
- Inclusive Date(s): 1968-2013
- Bulk Date(s): 2003-2013
- Author: Finding aid prepared by Rennie Greenfield, November 2015
- Creation: Finding aid encoded by Rennie Greenfield using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2015
- Origination: Davis, Laura, L.
- Extent: 1.16 cubic feet (1 record storage box + 1 media box)
- Physical Location: 11th floor (May 4 Collection, Boxes 214 and 214A)
- Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0166
- Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Laura Davis regarding the Kent State shootings. It contains materials related to the May 4 site and subject files related to May 4, 1970.
- Revision(s):
- January 26, 2021 - Revised by Cara Gilgenbach
- Language(s): The records are in English
Biography of Laura Davis
Laura Davis is a Kent State University professor emerita of English, former Associate Provost for Planning and Academic Resource Management (2000-2009), former Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1998-2000) and the founding director of Kent State's May 4 Visitors Center. She was a freshman on campus during the events of May 4, 1970. Working with university and community members, she coordinated and co-led the creation of an audio-guided walking tour of the May 4 historic site that was dedicated during the 40th anniversary. Davis was active in developing the Kent State May 4 Visitors Center. She and Carole Barbato (1949-2014), professor emerita of communications studies at Kent State, co-taught the university's May 4 course and co-chaired the 2009 Symposium on Democracy. Davis was a co-author of the application to add the May 4 site to the National Register of Historic Place, which was approved in February 2010 and a co-author of the application that placed the May 4 Shooting Site on the National Historic Landmark Program, which was approved in October 2016.
Scope and Content
These papers contain a wealth of information on many facets of the peace movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s as well as incidents surrounding the Kent State shootings. They provide an inside look into the May 4 historic site, and the Triceracopter, a multi-media art installation and essay project subtitled The Hope for the Obsolescence of War. There are also several subject files dealing with a variety of aspects of the peace movement, the culture of the 1960s, and the aftermath of the Kent State shootings. Also included are unedited videos of interviews, class visits, and a site tour with Charles R. Fassinger conducted by Laura Davis and Carole Barbato in April 2007.
Statement of Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into the following series:
- Series 1: May 4 Site
- Series 2: Triceracopter
- Series 3: Subject Files
- Series 4: Fassinger Visit Videos
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
Laura Davis May 4 papers. May 4 Collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Acquisition Information
Laura Davis donated her May 4 papers to Special Collections and Archives in 2013.
Controlled Access Headings
The following are found in this collection:
- Subjects:
- Kent State Shootings, Kent, Ohio, 1970
- Kent State University--History
- Kent (Ohio)--History
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements
- National Register of Historic Places.
- Kent State University. Department of English
- Peace movements - Ohio - Cincinnati
- Persons:
- Davis, Laura L.
- Barbato, Carole A.
- Fassinger, Charles R. (Charles Richard), 1930-2008
- Organizations/Corporations:
- Ohio. Army National Guard
- Ohio Historical Society
- Functions:
- Universities and colleges--Administration.
- Occupations:
- College students
- College teachers
- College Administrators
- Material Types:
- Maps
- Photographs
- Correspondence
- Video recordings
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: May 4 Site, 1995-2013
- Box 214 / Folder 1
- National Register of Historic Places, 2009
- Box 214 / Folder 2
- Research and proposals for preserving the May 4 site as an historic landmark, 1995-2013
- Box 214 / Folder 3
- Maps of the May 4 site, undated
- Box 214 / Folder 4
- Promotional Materials, 2008
- Box 214 / Folder 5
- "Kent State, Whitecastles, and Subdivisions, Evaluating the Recent Past" by W. Ray Luce, 1995
Series 2: Triceracopter, 1977-2010
- Scope and Content
- The Triceracopter was a multi-media art installation and essay project subtitled "The Hope for the Obsolescence of War" at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati Ohio.
- Box 214 / Folder 6
- Meeting Materials, 2003-2009
- Box 214 / Folder 7
- Promotional Book and 45 RPM record, 1977
- Box 214 / Folder 8
- Correspondence, 2009-2010
- Box 214 / Folder 9
- Photographs, undated
- Scope and Content
- Photocopies of Triceracopter images
Series 3: Subject Files, 1972-2013
- Box 214 / Folder 10
- 1975 Civil Trial, 1975-2007
- Box 214 / Folder 11
- Artists' Panel, 2006
- Box 214 / Folder 12
- Buhl, Lance, 2010-2011
- Box 214 / Folder 13
- Correspondence, 2002-2012
- Box 214 / Folder 14
- Faculty Forum, 1972
- Box 214 / Folder 15
- Faculty May 4 Convocation Committee, 1978
- Box 214 / Folder 16
- Faculty Observers, undated
- Box 214 / Folder 17
- Flyers and Brochures, 1974-2009
- Box 214 / Folder 18
- "Four Dead in Ohio": The May 4 Oral History Project, 2000-2002
- Box 214 / Folder 19
- Colloquium on the Frank and McMillen Manuscripts, 1999-2003
- Scope and Content
- Also includes a copy of the Barclay D. McMillen manuscript "Who Was Really Responsible for the Shootings"
- Box 214 / Folder 20
- Guardian, 1968
- Box 214 / Folder 21
- The History Channel: "Our Generation", 2006
- Box 214 / Folder 22
- Lt. Colonel Charles Fassinger, 2006-2007
- Box 214 / Folder 23
- Letters to Families (from Yale University Archive), 1970-1997
- Box 214 / Folder 24
- May 4 Memorial, 1986-2004
- Box 214 / Folder 25
- May 4 Resource Room, 2002
- Box 214 / Folder 26
- Memo Regarding the Disruption of University Educational Facilities, 1969
- Box 214 / Folder 27
- National Guard, 2009
- Box 214 / Folder 28
- Ohio Historical Society, 1982
- Box 214 / Folder 29
- Photographs, 1970, undated
- Scope and Content
- Includes one photograph of student activist Richie Hess with Laura Davis in the background, photocopies of images from May, 1970, and two contact sheets from an event in the May 4 Resource Room.
- Box 214 / Folder 30
- May 4 Presentations and Papers (1 of 2), 2003-2013
- Box 214 / Folder 31
- May 4 Presentations and Papers (2 of 2), 2003-2013
- Box 214 / Folder 32
- Retired Faculty Association, 2001
- Box 214 / Folder 33
- Bill Schroeder May 4 Internship Endowed by Laura Davis, 2011
- Box 214 / Folder 34
- Symposium on Democracy, 2002-2009
- Box 214 / Folder 35
- "Time it Was: the Culture of the Sixties", 2003-2005
Series 4: Fassinger Visit Videos, April 2007
- Box 214A / Folder 1
- Charles R. Fassinger Interview, Part 1 of 5, April 1, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 01:00:54 hours
- Scope and Content
- Unedited interview footage from an interview with Charles R. Fassinger, conducted by Laura Davis and Carole Barbato in 2007 when Fassinger visited Kent State University.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 2
- Charles R. Fassinger Interview, Part 2 of 5, April 1, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 01:07:36 hours
- Scope and Content
- Unedited interview footage from an interview with Charles R. Fassinger, conducted by Laura Davis and Carole Barbato in 2007 when Fassinger visited Kent State University.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 3
- Charles R. Fassinger Interview, Part 3 of 5, April 1, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 59:24 minutes
- Scope and Content
- Unedited interview footage from an interview with Charles R. Fassinger, conducted by Laura Davis and Carole Barbato in 2007 when Fassinger visited Kent State University.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 4
- Charles R. Fassinger Interview, Part 4 of 5, April 1, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 01:03:27 hours
- Scope and Content
- Unedited interview footage from an interview with Charles R. Fassinger, conducted by Laura Davis and Carole Barbato in 2007 when Fassinger visited Kent State University.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 5
- Charles R. Fassinger Interview, Part 5 of 5, April 1, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 49:23 minutes
- Scope and Content
- Unedited interview footage from an interview with Charles R. Fassinger, conducted by Laura Davis and Carole Barbato in 2007 when Fassinger visited Kent State University.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 6
- Charles R. Fassinger May 4 Site Tour, Part 1 of 2, April 3, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 01:03:12 hours
- Scope and Content
- Unedited footage from a tour of the Kent State shootings site with Charles R. Fassinger in 2007. It is possible this tour was part of his meeting with the May 4 Class on that same date.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 7
- Charles R. Fassinger May 4 Site Tour, Part 2 of 2, April 3, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 09:59 minutes
- Scope and Content
- Unedited footage from a tour of the Kent State shootings site with Charles R. Fassinger in 2007. It is possible this tour was part of his meeting with the May 4 Class on that same date.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 8
- Charles R. Fassinger Meeting with May 4 Class, Part 1 of 3, April 3, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 01:03:09 hours
- Scope and Content
- Unedited footage from Charles R. Fassinger's visit with a May 4 Class taught by Carole Barbato and Laura Davis in 2007. Please note that it is very difficult or impossible to hear the questions being asked during the session.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 9
- Charles R. Fassinger Meeting with May 4 Class, Part 2 of 3, April 3, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 30:33 minutes
- Scope and Content
- Unedited footage from Charles R. Fassinger's visit with a May 4 Class taught by Carole Barbato and Laura Davis in 2007. Please note that it is very difficult or impossible to hear the questions being asked during the session.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 10
- Charles R. Fassinger Meeting with May 4 Class, Part 3 of 3, April 3, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 15:03 minutes
- Scope and Content
- Unedited footage from Charles R. Fassinger's visit with a May 4 Class taught by Carole Barbato and Laura Davis in 2007. Please note that it is very difficult or impossible to hear the questions being asked during the session.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 11
- Charles R. Fassinger Q & A in Resource Room, Part 1 of 3, April 5, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 01:00:29 hours
- Scope and Content
- Unedited footage from a question and answer session with Charles R. Fassinger in the May 4 Resource Room (University Library, First Floor) in 2007. Please note that it is very difficult or impossible to hear the questions being asked during the session.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 12
- Charles R. Fassinger Q & A in Resource Room, Part 2 of 3, April 5, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 30:18 minutes
- Scope and Content
- Unedited footage from a question and answer session with Charles R. Fassinger in the May 4 Resource Room (University Library, First Floor) in 2007. Please note that it is very difficult or impossible to hear the questions being asked during the session.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
- Box 214A / Folder 13
- Charles R. Fassinger Q & A in Resource Room, Part 3 of 3, April 5, 2007
-
Physical Description: MiniDV Video 21:28 minutes
- Scope and Content
- Unedited footage from a question and answer session with Charles R. Fassinger in the May 4 Resource Room (University Library, First Floor) in 2007. Please note that it is very difficult or impossible to hear the questions being asked during the session.
- Alternate Form Available
- This video has been digitally captured. A CD reference copy is also available.
- Restrictions on Access
- Please access this video content online or by viewing the CD reference copy.
