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Dark Elegy Collection

An inventory of the collection at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at Syracuse University

Summary

Creator: Syracuse University.
Title: Dark Elegy Collection
Dates: 1995-2015
Size: 1.25 linear feet
Abstract: Materials relating to the exhibition of Suse Lowenstein's Dark Elegy sculpture collection on Syracuse University's campus
Language: English
Repository: Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/pan-am-103

Historical Note

Dark Elegy in front of Lyman Hall

Dark Elegy is a sculpture collection created by Suse Lowenstein, mother of Syracuse University student and victim of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, Alexander Lowenstein. It consists of 75 larger-than-life individual sculptures depicting women at the moment they learned their loved one had been killed in Pan Am Flight 103. The statues are typically arranged in a circular pattern about 65 feet in diameter, but they may be rearranged for display at different sites as Dark Elegy does not yet have a permanent home. The artist's goal is to donate the work for display in a public place where anyone may view it. If a public site is found, Suse and her husband Peter would use the money given them as reparations by the Gaddafi regime of Libya to have each statue cast in bronze.

Although Suse's personal tragedy arose from the bombing of Pan Am 103, she has dedicated Dark Elegy to all victims of terrorism. In her own words, "This sculpture needs no language, it is understood by all. It is not political in any partisan sense. It knows no borders. Today, people all over the world are affected by terrorism. DARK ELEGY is a universal appeal for peace and dignity for all victims of senseless hate and vengeance called terrorism and will be a beacon for all peace loving people. DARK ELEGY stands as a reminder of that hatred."

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Scope and Content Note

The Dark Elegy Collection contains six series relating to the exhibition of the statues on the campus of Syracuse University during the 1995-1996 academic year and the subsequent effort to find a permanent home for Dark Elegy.

Within the Audiovisual materials series is a DVD with an eight-minute video from Suse Lowenstein on Dark Elegy.

Clippings contains newspaper clippings from 1990 to 2008 about the creation and exhibition of Dark Elegy.

The Correspondence series contains internal Syracuse University correspondence as well as external communications with Suse Lowenstein and others.

The Photographs series contains photographs of the exhibition of Dark Elegy on Syracuse University's campus during the 1995-1996 academic year.

Within the Printed material series are fliers, announcements, programs, and other visual materials about Dark Elegy exhibitions and the search for its permanent home.

The Subject files series has materials on various topics related to the exhibition of Dark Elegy. These topics include the opening and closing events for the 1995-1996 Syracuse University campus exhibition, lectures and speakers' notes, and the Syracuse University College of Law symposium on international terrorism.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

School, college and department records are restricted to the office of origin for 30 years. Requests to use restricted records must be obtained in writing from the office of origin.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from the Pan Am Flight 103 Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Related Material

The Pan Am Flight 103 Archives contains additional materials and information related to the Dark Elegy Collection. Related collections include:

Pan Am Flight 103 Audiovisual Collection

Pan Am 103 Clippings Collection

Pan Am 103 College of Law Collection

Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers

Pan Am Flight 103 Publications Collection

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Selected Search Terms

Names

Lowenstein, Suse.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Associated Titles

Dark Elegy.

Subjects

Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing Incident, 1988.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States -- History.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States.
Terrorism -- History -- 20th Century.
Lockerbie (Scotland)

Types of material

Correspondence.
DVDs.
Fliers (printed matter)
Newspaper clippings.
Photographs.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Dark Elegy Collection,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Office of Undergraduate Studies in 1996 and the Office of Institutional Advancement in 2016.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Cara A. Howe
Date: 2012
Revision history: Mar 2015 - Errors corrected; stylistic changes (VSOM); Jul 2016 - New accessions added (VSOM); Mar 2018 - Stylistic changes (VSOM); May 2023 - One folder of materials added to the Printed material series; finding aid updated (HVA)

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Arrangement

Materials are arranged alphabetically.

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Inventory

Audiovisual materials
Box 1 "Dark elegy: remembering the moment: terrorism's legacy" undated (2 copies) DVD
Clippings
Box 1 General 1990, 1995-1996, 2005, 2008
Correspondence
RESTRICTED: The contents of Box 3 of this colleciton are restricted. School, college and department records are restricted to the office of origin for 30 years. Requests to use restricted records must be obtained in writing from the office of origin.
Box 3 Opening 1995
Box 3 Permanent home 2006-2007
Box 1 Planning 1995
Box 3 Planning, internal 1995
Box 3 Syracuse University Office of Institutional Advancement April-December 2006
Photographs
Box 1 General 1995, undated
Printed material
Box 1 Announcements and flyers 1995
Box 1 Dark elegy: experience the memorial undated
Box 1 Permanent home circa 2006-2007, 2015
Subject files
RESTRICTED: The contents of Box 3 of this collection are restricted. School, college and department records are restricted to the office of origin for 30 years. Requests to use restricted records must be obtained in writing from the office of origin.
Box 1 Booklet 1995-1996 (2 folders)
Box 1 Booklet, materials not used 1995-1996
Box 3 Booklet, planning 1995-1996
Box 1 Dark elegy at Rutgers University 1996-1997
Box 1 Final tribute to Dark elegy January 1996-March 1996
Box 3 Final tribute to Dark elegy, internal January 1996-March 1996
Box 1 Final tribute to Dark elegy, Alexia Foundation for World Peace 1996
Box 1 Guest book from the opening ceremony 23-24 September 1995
Box 1 "International terrorism: prevention and remedies," Syracuse University College of Law symposium 27 October 1995 (2 folders)
 International Terrorism: Prevention and Remedies, College of Law Symposium
Box 3 Lecture by Suse Lowenstein October 1995-November 1995
Box 2 Media 1995
Box 3 Media, internal 1995
Box 2 National Capital Advisory Commission, permanent home 2008
Box 3 National Capital Advisory Commission, permanent home, internal 2008
Box 2 Opening ceremony August 1995-September 1995
Box 3 Opening ceremony August 1995-September 1995
Box 2 Publicity folders 1995
Box 3 Removal of the sculptures May 1995
Box 2 Speeches at opening ceremony 24 September 1995
Box 3 Steering committee 1994-1995
Box 3 Steering committee project requests 1995
Box 2 Suse Lowenstein, sculptor 1994-1995

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