Finding Aid for the Paul Keane papers

May 4 Collection - Boxes 186 and 187

Author: Elizabeth Williams, October, 2002
Revisions: Updated July 31, 2006; Updated April 2017; Re-processed by Haley Antell, April 2019; Last Updated February 2023

Descriptive Rules: DACS
Origination: Keane, Paul
Inclusive Dates: 1969-2022
Extent: 1.33 cubic feet (1 record storage box, 1 document case, 3 oversized folders)
Physical Location: 12th floor
Language of Materials: English

Biographical Note: Paul Keane was born on December 28, 1944 near New Haven, Connecticut. After attending Ithaca College for his undergraduate education, Keane received an M.A. from Kent State in 1972. During his years at Kent State, from 1969-1973, he was a graduate student, residence hall assistant, and program coordinator and instructor at the Center for Peaceful Change. Keane was very active on campus and in the community. He was co-leader, with Greg Rambo, of the national petition for a Federal Grand Jury to investigate the events of May 4, 1970. He also organized Pop's Snow Squad, a town and gown collaboration that shoveled four blocks of sidewalk every time it snowed so that Pop Fischer, a school crossing guard, could walk to work without injury. The group received national coverage on the CBS Evening News. Keane received a Master of Divinity from Yale University in 1980.

Scope and Content: This collection contains the papers of Paul Keane, and mainly relate to the aftermath of the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970, particularly Keane’s role in the push for a Federal Grand Jury investigation of the shootings. The papers also include materials related to Keane’s position as program coordinator and instructor at the Center for Peaceful Change, his work organizing Pop’s Snow Squad, and his trip to the 1972 Democratic Convention in Miami, Florida. 

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. Additionally, the donor has restricted access to diaries included in this collection.

Related Material: Yale University holds additional papers of Keane in the Kent State collection (MS 804). Additional information on the Center for Peaceful Change may be found in the Center for Peaceful Change records.

Arrangement: The Paul Keane papers are organized in the following series: 

• Series 1: Subject Files
• Series 2: Center for Peaceful Change
• Series 3: Pop's Snow Squad
• Series 4: 1972 Democratic Convention

Series 1: Subject Files
Scope and Content: These files are comprised of materials that have been organized by subject, category, or type of item.

May 4 Collection - Box 186
Folder -- Contents

1. Bay Area Radical Education Project: Publications: 1970; undated
2. Clippings: Kent State Shootings: 1970-1974; 2022
3. Committee for Truth and Justice: Report: 1972
   Scope and Content: A report prepared by the Committee for Truth and Justice, which held a "federal grand jury" process on campus in the winter of 1971 and issued a report. 
4. Committee of Kent State Massacre Witnesses: Flyer: May 13, 1970
5. Correspondence: Keane, Paul: 1971-1972
6. Correspondence: Keane, Paul: 1973; 2021
7. Diaries: Keane, Paul: 1970; 1972
   Restrictions on Access: Diaries may not be accessed without donor’s written permission.
8. FACT: Correspondence, Newsletters: 1977-1978
   Scope and Content: Includes materials produced by Kent State First Amendment Conservation Task-force (FACT).
9. Honors and Experimental College: 1972
   Scope and Content: Includes course listings, descriptions, and instructors.
10. Interview: Keane and Rambo on WKSU: January 20, 1972
    Scope and Content: 14-page transcript of excerpts of an interview of Paul Keane and Greg Rambo that was recorded on January 20, 1972 and aired on WKSU Radio on February 20, 1972.
11. Joe Hill Collective: Flyers, Leaflets: undated
12. Kent Gay Liberation Front: Flyer: undated
13. Kent State Film and Lecture Tour: Flyer: undated
14. Kent United Front: Flyer: undated
15. King Alfonso’s Unity with Humanity for All: Correspondence: 1969-1972
    Scope and Content: Correspondence to and from Alfonso Lizanetz, who called himself “King Alfonso, a Robin Hood to all.” His organization, King Alfonso’s Unity and Humanity for All, appears to be a quasi-religious and humanitarian organization.
16. Lake Hall House Council: Flyer: undated
17. May 4th United Front: Flyers, Leaflets: 1972; undated
18. New College: 1972-1973
    Scope and Content: Includes correspondence, meeting minutes, and proposals for a new college unit at Kent State University.
19. Paper: Kent State: Three Years Later. A Legal Summary: April 20, 1973
    Author: Gordon, William A.
20. Paper: Kent State University’s Petition to the White House: Ten Months of Deceit: August 9, 1972
    Author: Gordon, William A.
21. Paper: The Bound and the Unbound: Oedipus, Isaac, Jesus: 1978
    Author: Keane, Paul
22. Paper: The Study of Interpersonal Attraction: October 22, 1970
    Author: Hendrick, Clyde
23. Petition: Mailing List: 1971
    Scope and Content: List of “Mailing of New York Students Appeal for Petitions in Support of Kent State.” 
24. Petition, Federal Grand Jury: Signatures: 1971 (1 of 5)
25. Petition, Federal Grand Jury: Signatures: 1971 (2 of 5)
26. Petition, Federal Grand Jury: Signatures: 1971 (3 of 5)
27. Petition, Federal Grand Jury: Signatures: 1971 (4 of 5)
28. Petition, Federal Grand Jury: Signatures: 1971 (5 of 5)
29. Poetry: Various Authors: undated
    Scope and Content: Poetry by various authors handwritten by Keane.
30. Portfolio: Keane, Paul: circa 1973
    Scope and Content: Biographical information and writings by and about Paul Keane.
31. Poster: School of Art Memorial Exhibit: 1972
    Physical Location: This item is oversized and is filed in the map case.
32. Publication: Universities and the Quest for Peace: Compendium of Resolutions, 1963-1972: 1972
    Publisher: State University of New York, Binghamton
33. Questionnaire: Taylor, Stuart P.: May 26, 1970
34. Speeches: Keane, Paul: 1975-1976
35. Statement: Olds, Glenn A.: 1972
36. Unidentified Groups: Flyers, Leaflets: undated
37. Writings: Keane, Paul: 1971-1973; 2006-2023
    Scope and Content: Articles written by Keane in the Daily Kent Stater. Keane often wrote under pseudonym Broderick Euclid. Also included are other writings by Keane such as editorials published in newspapers.
38. Youth Against War and Fascism: Flyer: undated

Series 2: Center for Peaceful Change
Scope and Content: These files contain information on the establishment of the Center for Peaceful Change (CPC), and materials related to Paul Keane’s work as program coordinator and instructor at the CPC.

May 4 Collection - Box 186
Folder -- Contents

39. CPC: Brochure: undated
    Scope and Content: Full title: Center for Peaceful Change, A Living Memory to Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandy Scheuer, Bill Schroeder.
40. CPC: Committee on Political Education: 1971-1973
41. CPC: Correspondence: 1972-1973
    Scope and Content: Includes correspondence to and from Paul Keane in his capacity as program coordinator at the Center for Peaceful Change. Also contains information on Keane’s Peaceful Change 100 course and the Alastair Granville Jackson Kent Four sculpture.
42. CPC: Curriculum and Programming: 1971-1972; undated
43. CPC: Leaflets: 1972
44. CPC: Life Center: Report: 1971-1972
45. CPC: Organizational Chart: 1972-1973
46. CPC: Peaceful Change 100: Student Papers: 1972 (1 of 2)
47. CPC: Peaceful Change 100: Student Papers: 1972 (2 of 2)
48. CPC: Peaceful Change 100: Syllabus: 1972-1973
49. CPC: Press Release: April 13, 1971
50. CPC: Proposal: 1972?
    Scope and Content: Full title: Proposal for Planning a Program of Study, Research, and Service Activities in Peaceful Change.
51. CPC: Proposal: May 4th Resource Center: 1973
52. CPC: Proposals, Grants: 1971; 1973
53. CPC: Statement: undated
    Scope and Content: Full title: A Statement on Research Relating to Change in Human Systems.

Series 3: Pop's Snow Squad
Scope and Content: The bulk of this series is comprised of correspondence, most of which is fan mail sent Keane after his appearance regarding Pop’s Snow Squad on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.

May 4 Collection - Box 186
Folder -- Contents

54. Pop’s Snow Squad: Certificates of Recognition: 1971-1973
55. Pop’s Snow Squad: Clippings: 1971-1973
56. Pop’s Snow Squad: Correspondence: December 1971-November 1972
57. Pop’s Snow Squad: Correspondence: December 4-22, 1972
58. Pop’s Snow Squad: Correspondence: December 23-31, 1972
59. Pop’s Snow Squad: Correspondence: 1973
60. Pop’s Snow Squad: Correspondence: undated
61. Pop’s Snow Squad: Interview: December 22, 1972
    Scope and Content: Transcript of interview of Keane on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.
62. Pop’s Snow Squad: Mailing List: undated
63. Pop’s Snow Squad: Newsletters: 1972-1973
64. Pop’s Snow Squad: Press Release: December 14, 1972
65. Pop’s Snow Squad: Schedule: January 10, 1973
66. Pop’s Snow Squad: Sign: undated
    Scope and Content: Hand-drawn sign with the text, “Pop’s Snow Squad Official Limousine”
    Physical Location: This item is oversized and is filed in the map case.

Series 4: 1972 Democratic Convention
Scope and Content: This series contains materials collected by Keane at the 1972 Democratic Convention in Miami, Florida.

May 4 Collection - Box 187
Folder -- Contents

1. Democratic Convention: Booklets: 1972; undated
   Scope and Content: Includes booklets from various organizations collected at the 1972 Democratic Convention.
2. Democratic Convention: Flyers, Leaflets, Pamphlets: 1971-1972; undated
3. Democratic Convention: Notes: Keane, Paul: 1972
4. Democratic Convention: Posters: 1972
   Physical Location: This item is oversized and is filed in the map case. 
5. Democratic Convention: Religious and Community Leaders Concerned: 1972; undated
   Scope and Content: Includes clippings, correspondence, leaflets, and publications produced by the organization Religious and Community Leaders Concerned, which was involved in presenting agendas and training demonstration observers at the Democratic Convention.
6. Democratic Convention: Ticket: 1972
7. Democratic Convention: Clippings: 1972 (1 of 4)
8. Democratic Convention: Clippings: 1972 (2 of 4)
9. Democratic Convention: Clippings: 1972 (3 of 4)
10. Democratic Convention: Clippings: 1972 (4 of 4)