Kent State Shootings Photographs from Various Sources

May 4 Collection - Box 109

Finding Aid

Prepared by Nancy Birk, 1995; Updated by Penny White, 2013; Reprocessed by Cara Gilgenbach, 2019; Last update: July 2023

Inclusive Dates: 1968-1970
Bulk Date: 1970
Extent: .5 cubic foot (1 half-size record storage box, 1 oversized folder)
Physical Location: 12th floor

Scope and Content: This collection contains photographs related to the Kent State shootings that have been donated to the Department of Special Collections and Archives by various individuals or offices. Provenance information for each piece can be found with the individual listing.

Accruals: Photographs are added to this collection as they are received by Special Collections & Archives.

Related Materials: The researcher is advised that photographs are found in several other sub-collections that are part of the May 4 Collection. There are also hundreds of digitized photographs in the Kent State Shootings Digital Archive as well as a guide to photographs that provides detailed information on locating and using photographs in the May 4 collection.

Restrictions on Use: Physical donation of photographs to the May 4 collection does not mean that the copyright to those photographs has also been donated. Copyright still resides with the creator in many cases, and permission from copyright owner(s) must be obtained for use other than personal research. See usage information provided for each file below for more information. Photographer's name should be included in credits for any authorized use of photographs.

Arrangement: The materials in this collection have been organized into the following series.

• Series 1: Photographs: Events Prior to 1970
• Series 2: Photographs: April-August, 1970

Alternative Form Available: This collection has been digitized and is available online. The inventory below includes links to the digital content.

Series 1: Photographs: Events Prior to 1970

May 4 Collection - Box 109
Folder -- Contents

1. Photographs: Oakland Police Protest and Music & Speech Building Takeover, by McGuire, November 1968; April 1969
   Photographer: McGuire III, William J.
   Physical Description: 5 black and white contact sheets, 35mm
   Scope and Content: Contact sheets of photographic negatives taken of the Oakland Police Protest of November 1968 and Music & Speech Building Takeover in April 1969. No negatives or prints are on file.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Judy (McGuire) Malpass.
   Related Materials: See other photographs by McGuire in the April-August, 1970 series.
2. Photographs: Music & Speech Building Takeover, by Whipple, April 1969
   Photographer: Whipple, Connie
   Physical Description: 5 color prints, 3.5" X 3.5"; accompanied by hand-written list of contents
   Scope and Content: Images include demonstration before Music & Speech takeover, Sheriff's deputies blocking the building staircase, SDS members in the building hallway, and Carl Moore in the building elevator with students he was assisting. Description of photographs by Whipple is included in file.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
3. Photographs: Demonstration Event, by Greiner, May 1969
   Photographer: Greiner, Bill
   Physical Description: 8 color prints, 3.5" X 5"
   Scope and Content: Images include scenes of a crowd demonstrating on front campus including protest signs, flags, a VW Bug painted with text about a rally at 2PM and protest leaders speaking from the steps of the Administration Building. Demonstration appears to be related to arrests of SDS members following the April demonstration event that included the Music & Speech Building Takeover. Accompanied by color photocopies of the images with Greiner's handwritten notes on dates and subject matter.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Greiner.
   Related Materials: See other photographs by Greiner in the April-August, 1970 series.
4. Photographs: Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam Protest in Kent, by Dante, October 15, 1969
   Photographer: Dante, John Harris
   Physical Description: 15 color slides, 35 mm
   Scope and Content: Images include scenes of protestors in downtown Kent for the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, part of a national protest movement that took place across the United States on October 15, 1969.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Dante.
   Related Materials: See other photographs by Dante in the April-August, 1970 series.

Series 2: Photographs: April-August, 1970

May 4 Collection - Box 109
Folder -- Contents

5. Photographs: Kent State University, by McGuire, April 10, 1970; May 4, 1970; undated
   Photographer: McGuire III, William J.
   Physical Description: 39 black and white; 14 black and white contact sheets, 35mm; 1 black and white print, 8" X 10"
   Scope and Content: Photographs of April 10, 1970 Jerry Rubin event. Date of event cannot be confirmed in relation to Daily Kent Stater coverage. Other contact sheets appear to be possible commemoration events after May 1970, but there is not labeling to assist with identification. Please note that negatives in this file appear to be from May 4, 1970 and do not have matching contact sheets, for the most part.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Judy (McGuire) Malpass.
   Related Materials: See also Events Prior to 1970 series for additional McGuire photographs.
6. Photographs: Kent State University and Kent, Ohio, by Greiner, April 1970; May 1970
   Photographer: Greiner, Bill
   Physical Description: 7 color prints, 3.5" X 5"; 2 black and white prints, 3.5" x 3.5"
   Scope and Content: Images include campus scenes from April 1970, a photograph of a police officer and the cartoon character Grog as printed onto the side of a dormitory building, a photograph of the ROTC annex building before and after it was burned down, boarded up windows on businesses in downtown Kent following disturbances on May 1, 1970, and members of the Ohio Army National Guard on campus on May 3, 1970.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Greiner. Accompanied by color photocopies of the images with Greiner's handwritten notes on dates and subject matter.
   Related Materials: See also Events Prior to 1970 series for additional Greiner photographs.
7. Photographs: Kent State University and Kent, Ohio, by Record-Courier, May 1-2, 1970
   Publisher: Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier
   Physical Description: 21 black and white prints, most are 8" X 10"
   Scope and Content: Images include a May 1 rally on the Commons called by Black student leaders (speakers and crowd attending), downtown Kent damage from night of May 1, police personnel, people cleaning up broken glass, stand-off between students and National Guard and law enforcement near corner of campus (Prentice Gate), and ROTC annex building fire. Photographers for each image are not indicated. There are duplicate prints of some images.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
8. Photographs: Kent State University, by Copeland, May 1-4, 1970
   Photographer: Copeland, Louis Samuel
   Physical Description: 13 black and white contact sheets, 35mm
   Scope and Content: Images of campus scenes from May 1-4, 1970 including Black Students Rally on the Commons on May 1, 1970, ROTC fire on May 2, campus scenes from May 3, and events surrounding the shootings on May 4. Please note that the contact sheets are labeled as being part of a 14-sheet set, but only 13 sheets are on file. No negatives or prints are on file.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by John L. Meeks, Sr.
9. Photographs: Kent State University, by Smith, May 2, 1970; May 4, 1970
   Photographer: Smith, Daniel J.
   Physical Description: 39 black and white negatives and 2 contact sheets, 35mm; 1 black and white print, 8" X 10"
   Scope and Content: Images of the ROTC annex building fire on May 2 and National Guard and crowd shots from May 4, 1970. Smith was a Kent State University student and worked for the Record-Courier at the time these photographs were taken. Accompanied by photocopies of two newspaper accounts by Smith, one that ran in the Record-Courier, and the other in the Coshocton Tribune, on May 5, 1970.
   Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Smith.
10. Photographs: Kent State University and Kent, by Dante, May 2-3, 1970; May 1970; undated, but likely August 1970
    Photographer: Dante, John Harris
    Physical Description: 32 color slides, 35 mm
    Scope and Content: Images include the burned ROTC annex building, National Guard personnel, campus scenes days and weeks after the shootings, and Scranton Commission hearings in the summer of 1970.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Dante.
    Related Materials: See also Events Prior to 1970 series for additional Dante photographs.
11. Photographs: Kent State University, by Abell, undated, but likely May 3, 1970; undated
    Photographer: Abell, Chris
    Physical Description: 13 black and white prints, 3.5" X 3.5"; 1 black and white print, 5" X 8"; 1 contact sheet, 35mm
    Scope and Content: Images show burned ROTC annex building, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Army National Guard vehicles and personnel, and other campus scenes most likely from May 3, 1970. Contact sheet includes images from a rally or demonstration event that most likely occurred after the shootings, but is undated.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
12. Photographs: Kent State University and Kent, by Caldwell, undated, but likely May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Caldwell, John David
    Physical Description: 12 color prints, 4" X 6"
    Scope and Content: Images show Ohio Army National Guard personnel and vehicles on Kent campus and edge of campus, burned ROTC annex building and nearby library construction.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Jayne Caldwell.
13. Photographs: Kent State University, by Goldstein, May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Goldstein, Ronald
    Physical Description: 8 color prints, 3.5" X 3.5"
    Scope and Content: Images show Ohio Army National Guard personnel and vehicles on Kent campus, burned ROTC annex building, the Commons, and other campus views. Most of the prints have hand-written notations on the verso.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
14. Photographs: Kent State University, by Grossman, undated, but likely May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Grossman, Elaine
    Physical Description: 11 black and white prints, 3.5" X 5"
    Scope and Content: Images show Ohio Army National Guard personnel and vehicles on Kent campus and edge of campus on Main St. and students and others walking on campus. Although prints are only dated May 1970, it's likely these photos were taken on May 3. Please note that many of these images are blurry.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Grossman.
15. Photographs: Kent State University, by Kovack, undated, but likely May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Kovack, David
    Physical Description: 2 color prints, 3.5" X 5"
    Scope and Content: Images show Ohio Army National Guard vehicle and personnel on Kent campus, burned ROTC annex building, students and other onlookers most likely from May 3, 1970.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Kovack.
16. Photographs: Kent State University, by Stambaugh, May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Stambaugh, Bruce
    Physical Description: 13 color prints (copies), 8"x10" (original size unknown)
    Scope and Content: Images include Ohio Army National Guard personnel and vehicles on Kent campus, burned ROTC annex building, students and other onlookers.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Stambaugh.
17. Photographs: Kent State University, by Stiegemeier, May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Stiegemeier, Scott
    Physical Description: 13 color slides, 35mm
    Scope and Content: Images show Ohio Army National Guard personnel and vehicles on Kent campus, burned ROTC annex building, students and other onlookers.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Stiegemeier.
18. Photographs: Kent State University, by Stroh, May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Stroh, James R.
    Physical Description: 18 color prints, 3.5" X 5"; 19 black and white prints, 3.5" X 5"
    Scope and Content: Images include Ohio Army National Guard personnel and vehicles on Kent campus, Kent Fire Department personnel, burned ROTC annex building, students and other onlookers.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is retained by Stroh. Use other than for personal research requires written permission from Stroh.
19. Photographs: Kent State University, by Halem, May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Halem, Henry
    Physical Description: 11 black and white prints, 8" x 10" and 9.5" x 6.
    Scope and Content: Images include Ohio Army National Guard personnel on campus, students and onlookers, burned ROTC annex building, and a group of individuals in front graffiti reading, "Victory NLF".
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Halem.
20. Photographs: Kent State University and Kent, Ohio, by Kangas, May 3, 1970
    Photographer: Kangas, Michael S.
    Physical Description: 20 black and white negatives, 2.25" X 2.25"
    Scope and Content: Images include Ohio Army National Guard personnel and vehicles on the Kent campus and other campus and City of Kent scenes. A list of photo contents is included in file.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University, but donor's family should be contacted when photographs are used in publications or films.
21. Photographs: Kent State University, by Boehme, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Boehme, Richard G.
    Acquisition Note: Source of donated prints is unknown.
    Physical Description: 2 black and white duplicate prints, 8" X 10"
    Scope and Content: Duplicate image of individuals observing the National Guard through a chain link fence.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research only.
22. Photographs: Kent State University, by Brauning, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Brauning, Bill
    Physical Description: 4 black and white prints (copies), 8" X 10" (original size unknown)
    Scope and Content: Images from May 4, 1970 that show Ohio Army National Guard vehicles on campus, the Guard on the Commons and around the burned ROTC annex building, and a wounded person being given aid (obscured mostly by a person standing in foreground).
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Brauning.
23. Photographs: Kent State University, by Coon, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Coon, James
    Physical Description: 3 color prints, 5"x7"; 1 color print, 8"x12"
    Scope and Content: Restored images from May 4, 1970 include a National Guardsmen with a flower in his gun, a student kneeling over a wounded person, and duplicate images of John Filo with a camera in hand, overlooking the National Guardsmen and students.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Coon.
24. Photographs: Kent State University, by Darnell, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Darnell, John A.
    Acquisition Note: Source of donated prints is unknown.
    Physical Description: 3 black and white prints
    Scope and Content: Images include moment the National Guardsmen opened fire on students at Kent State University.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
25. Photographs: Kent State University, by Hoopes, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Hoopes, Ralph
    Physical Description: 20 color prints, 3.5" X 5"
    Scope and Content: Images from the Kent State shootings, including many that are immediate aftermath, showing wounded and killed students, blood, crowds, National Guardsmen, teargas smoke, and people being loaded into ambulances.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
26. Photographs: Kent State University, by Knowles Burger, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Knowles Burger, Beverly
    Acquisition Note: Source of donated prints is unknown.
    Physical Description: 2 black and white prints, 8 X 10
    Scope and Content: Images include scenes of crowds and vehicles in the Prentice Parking lot.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. Use of these photographs beyond personal research use requires advanced permission from the donor.
27. Photographs: Kent State University, by McNees, May 4, 1970; May 1970
    Photographer: McNees, Ronald P.
    Acquisition Information: Donated by Robyn Templeman in December 2019. 2 black and white prints, 3.5" X 5" were previously on file in the collection. Source of those prints is unknown.
    Physical Description: 14 black and white prints, 8" X 10" ; 2 black and white prints, 3.5" X 5"; 1 contact sheet; 53 black and white negatives, 35mm; Original negative sleeves and envelopes
    Scope and Content: Images from the Kent State shootings, including tear gas deployment, crowds, National Guardsmen, wounded and killed students, and a set of negatives dated as "May 1970" showing the Solar Totem #1 (Drumm sculpture) with a special light effect by McNees, labeled on his original negative envelope as "Sculpture and Crosses."
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Robyn Templeman. Please ensure photographer name (Ronald P. McNees) is noted in all credits.
28. Photographs: Kent State University, by Moore, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Moore, Gregory T.
    Physical Description: 12 color slides, 35mm.
    Scope and Content: Images from the Kent State shootings, include scenes of the Ohio National Guardsmen walking in formation near the Pagoda, and onlookers surrounding an ambulance vehicle as it provides emergency services.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Moore.
29. Photographs: Kent State University, by Olecki, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Olecki, Tim
    Acquisition Note: Source of donated prints is unknown.
    Physical Description: 2 black and white prints, 8" X 10"
    Scope and Content: Duplicate photographs contain scenes of National Guard walking in formation near Taylor Hall.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
30. Photographs: Kent State University, by Shank, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Shank, Larry
    Physical Description: 10 color and 1 black and white image files on CD, original size unknown
    Scope and Content: Images include crowds on The Commons, tear gas, burned ROTC annex building, Ohio Army National Guard personnel and vehicles. Shank provided scans only of these photographs, which has been printed out, for reference purposes and placed in this file along with the CD containing Shank's scans. The black and white image appears to be scanned out of a published source, such as a yearbook. Photographer and copyright owner of that image are unknown.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Shank.
    Related Materials: Shank also donated some prints of Akron Beacon Journal photographs that are listed below.
31. Photographs: Kent State University, by Sloan, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Sloan, Victor J.
    Acquisition Note: Source of donated print is unknown.
    Physical Description: 1 black and white print, 8" X 10"
    Scope and Content: Image of a small crowd behind the National Guard, nearing the Pagoda.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research only.
32. Photographs: Kent State University, by Stoklas, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Stoklas, Jerome P.
    Physical Description: 57 black and white negatives and 2 contact sheets, 35mm
    Scope and Content: Stoklas, a journalism student at the time, was given access to the rooftop of Taylor Hall by then school director Murvin Perry. Stoklas took these photographs of the events immediately before, during, and after the shootings from that vantage point. Copies of the photographs were used by the FBI in its investigation of the shootings. The photos are accompanied by some documents including an excerpt from the FBI report which lists and describes the photos.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright has been donated to Kent State University by Stoklas.
33. Photographs: Kent State University, by Tople, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Tople, Paul
    Physical Description: 4 black and white prints; 8" X 10". 16 black and white prints believed to be made by Tople. Image size is 9.5" X 15," each printed on paper measuring 16.5" X 11.75"
    Scope and Content: Images taken by Tople on the scene of the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970. Images include events occurring immediately before, during and immediately after the shootings took place.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is retained by Tople. Use other than for personal research requires written permission from the Tople estate.
    Physical Location: Oversized prints are filed in the map case.
34. Photographs: Kent State University, by Walker, May 4, 1970
    Photographer: Walker, Harold C.
    Acquisition Note: Source of donated prints is unknown.
    Physical Description: 1 black and white print; 8" X 10"
    Scope and Content: Photograph of National Guardsmen walking in formation with passing onlookers in forefront of image.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
35. Photographs: Press Conference: Kent State Students Who Met with President Nixon, May 6, 1970
    Publisher: Kent State University
    Physical Description: 3 black and white prints; 8" X 10"
    Scope and Content: Photographs from a press conference held by Kent State University students and Congressman J. William Stanton after the students' meeting with President Richard M. Nixon on May 6, 1970. One of these photographs appeared in KENT, Vol. 3, No. 6, June, 1970, on page 13. It is believed the photographs were taken by the Kent State University News Service, but this has not been verified as no reference to the photographs can be found in the University Photographs archive.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is believed to be owned by Kent State University.
36. Photograph: Press Conference: Kent State Students Who Met with President Nixon, by Atkins, May 6, 1970
    Photographer: Atkins, Oliver
    Physical Description: 1 black and white print; 8" X 10"
    Scope and Content: Photograph of President Nixon meeting with Kent State University students Thomas Rall (Chairman of the Kent State University Alumni Association), Don Grant, Dean Powell, Don Tretinik, Sam Trezo, Ron Ziegler, Ohio Congressman William Stanton at the White House, Oval Office on May 6, 1970.
    Acquisition Note: The photograph was donated by Donald Grant.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. Photograph is part of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum collection.
37. Photographs: Kent State Students Retrieve Belongings, May 18, 1970
    Photographer: Dillard, Van
    Publisher: Cleveland Press; UPI
    Physical Description: 3 black and white prints, 8" X 10" and 7" X 10"
    Scope and Content: Images of Kent State University students and their parents retrieving personal belongings from campus residence halls, following the evacuation and closure of the campus after the May 4, 1970 shootings. Caption on one photograph reads: "Cars line up in front of dormitory as students were allowed to return to Kent State University to pick up their belongings 5/18..." Two of the photographs are stamped on versos as being taken by Van Dillard. The other has no photographer credited. Each print is stamped as being property of the Cleveland Press.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.
38. Photographs: Kent State University and Kent, Ohio, by Akron Beacon Journal, May-June 1970; undated
    Publisher: Akron Beacon Journal
    Physical Description: 11 black and white prints, 8" X 10" and 7" X 9"; 18 color slides
    Scope and Content: Images include City of Kent and police presence, most likely dating from May 1-2, 1970, an unidentified protest march, Ohio Army National Guard on campus, and Kent State University images from May 4, including one showing casualty being loaded into an ambulance. Also included is a photograph from the June 13, 1970 commencement ceremony at Kent State University, taken by Ted R. Schneider, Jr. Also included is a downtown Kent image of people standing outside of a bar, which is believed to have been taken after May 4, 1970. While all other prints are stamped with the Akron Beacon Journal publishing mark, individual photographers are not listed.
    Acquisition Note: Nine of the black and white prints in this file were donated by Larry Shank.
    Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not owned by Kent State University. For research use only.