Collection inventory

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Synapse Collection

An inventory of the collection at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: ZEC
Date: 2021

Historical Note

Synapse was founded in 1970 by Carl Geiger and Lance Wisniewski along with other Syracuse University students, including Gail Waldron and Bob Burns as an off-shoot of the Syracuse University LightWork Community Darkrooms. Located in the basement of Watson Hall, Synapse was Syracuse University's cable television and experimental media program, providing the campus with a cable television system through the placement of cable television monitors placed in dormitories and select campus locations in 1971. In addition, it also offered services such as a broadcast studio, post-production, cable programming and an in-house cable system, videotape rental and retrieval, informal classes, portable video equipment, and a color studio. Synapse's services were available to students, faculty, and staff of Syracuse University, as well as the community. Artists who wished to utilize Synapse's production and/or post-production facilities could apply to do so. For example, in the early 1970s, Synapse helped to support the growth of a video department and program at the Everson Museum, located in Syracuse, New York, by offering their post-production space and equipment for artists showing exhibits at the museum.

In 1977 Synapse changed its location on campus, leaving behind the color production studio and campus cable system. University Union, the largest student organization on campus, took over that space and revamped it as UUTV. UUTV split from University Union in 2004, and is presently recognized as its own student organization, CitrusTV. Synapse itself formed an association with the Newhouse School of Public Communications. Synapse shared Newhouse's equipment and studio space, but also remained an independent production option for experimental video and media.

In 1981 Syracuse University's relationship with Synapse began to dwindle. Henry Baker, executive director of Synapse at the time, drafted a proposal that would redefine Synapse and its educational aspects, but this was rejected by the University. Synapse moved off campus and subsequently closed in November of 1981.

Scope and Content Note

The Synapse Collection consists of administrative material, artists' material, correspondence, printed material, and visual media. The collection spans from 1970 to 1981, with the bulk of the material being from 1975 to 1981.

Administrative material contains material related to Synapse's regular operations. This includes internal correspondence, job descriptions, budgets, equipment documentation, blank forms, film rental records, Synapse catalogs, various projects such as David Marc's oral history, proposals submitted to Synapse, etc.

Artists files contain documents and forms pertaining to artists that worked with Synapse. Most of the artists' files contain forms applying for video post-production space and time at Synapse's studios, as well as resumes, some correspondence, and information regarding their video works.

Correspondence consists of correspondence with external entities, including television stations, radio stations, various media-related organizations, and so on.

Printed material contains advertisements, annual reports, catalogs (for equipment and supplies, and for films and videos), newsletters for a variety of organizations, periodicals, publicity material for a variety of organizations, and miscellaneous printed material.

The bulk of Visual media consists of visual art works created by artists visiting Synapse; these are a mixture of masters (2-inch quad) and what appear to be VHS tape dubs of those masters. The rest of the visual media consists of Synapse promotional items; something called "Second Sight" which appears to use, or re-use, visiting artists productions; recordings of various Syracuse University-related events (these include portions of two adult education colloquia, several Crouse College Convocations or performances, the Newhouse II Dedication, and several commencement ceremonies); and some miscellaneous or unidentified items.

Alternative Formats

Many of the recordings have been digitized. Please contact the repository listed above for more information.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Access to audiovisual material requires advance notice to produce a use copy.

Some items contain information that is restricted for legal/privacy reasons. These items have been replaced with redacted copies. Unredacted originals are not accessible to researchers.

Use Restrictions:

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

Related Material

See also the University Union at Syracuse University Records.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Berry, Jason.
Billipp, Jim.
Bowes, Ed.
Bowes, Tom.
Carey, Tobe.
Davidovich, Jaime, 1936-2016.
DeAk, Edit.
Devyatkin, Dimitri.
Dougherty, Paul.
Downey, Juan.
Edelstein, Phil.
Fitzgerald, Kit.
Gillette, Frank, 1941-
Harris, Hilary.
Heyward, Julia.
Jones, Philip Mallory.
Kazanjian, Miriam.
Kirkman, Larry.
Klein, Judy Graf.
Kurland, Norman G.
Langner, William R.
Levine, Les, 1935-
Lozanov, Georgi.
Mabey, John.
Murphy, Garrett.
Oliver, Leonard P., 1933-
Orentlicher, John.
Paik, Nam June, 1932-2006.
Palfi, Stevenson J.
Quesada, Virginia.
Rivera, William M.
Sanborn, John.
Schneider, Ira.
Snyder, Bob, 1946-
Sullivan, Victor.
Viola, Bill, 1951-
Wali, Monona.
Wisniewski, Lance.
Wurzburg, Gerardine.
Ziegler, Warren L.
Ant Farm (Design group)
New Orleans Video Access Center.
Public Broadcasting Service (U.S.).
Synapse Artist Visitation Program.
Synapse Video Center.
Syracuse University. -- University Union.
WNET (Television station : New York, N.Y.)

Subjects

Abstract films.
College students -- New York (State)
Experimental films.
Public television -- New York (State)
Student activities.
Television -- Production and direction.
Television broadcasting.

Types of Material

Administrative records.
Annual reports.
Catalogs (documents)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
DVDs.
Financial records.
Forms (documents)
Newsletters.
Periodicals.
Photographs.
Proposals.
Resumes.
Slides (photographs)
Tape reels.
VHS.
Video recordings (physical artifacts)
Videocassettes.
Videotapes.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Synapse Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Transferred to Syracuse University Libraries from Synapse, and from the Libraries to University Archives.

Arrangement

Material is arranged in alphabetical order by name or topic. Visual media is physically arranged in original Synapse inventory order. However, for ease of access, in the inventory below it is subdivided by category (visiting artists, School of Education / Continuing Education, Syracuse University events, and miscellaneous); within that, it is listed in alphabetical order by artist's name or by title.

There is NO BOX 7 due to post-processing removal of retention-governed material.

Table of Contents

Administrative material

Artists

Correspondence

Financial records

Printed material

Visual media

Inventory