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Deborah Andersen photographs and papers (May 4)

Special Collections and Archives

Deborah Andersen photographs and papers (May 4)

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Special Collections and Archives

Deborah Andersen photographs and papers (May 4)

You are here

Deborah Andersen photographs and papers

May 4 Collection -- Box 188

Finding Aid

Prepared by Amy Dankowski, November 18, 2002; Updated by Dyani Scheuerman, January 29, 2003; Updated by Anita Clary, January 13, 2017


Inclusive Dates: 1977; 2000
Extent: .33 cubic foot (1 document case)
Physical Location: 12th floor


Historical Note: Tent City was the name given to the 1977 protests on the site of the proposed gym annex onto the Memorial Gymnasium. The controversy arose from the University's decision to build an annex to the gym on part of the site of the 1970 Kent State shootings. Some protesters occupied the proposed building site, camping out in tents and other shelters. This led to the monikers "Tent City" or "Tentropolis" in reference to the Gym Annex protest.

Scope and Content: The 39 photographs in this collection were taken by Deborah J. Andersen. Most of the pictures date from September 17 and 24, 1977 and October 22, 1977. The collection also includes two letters to Andersen from Joan Baez's mother, a copy of the restraining order filed against the protesters' encampment near Memorial Gymnasium, and a journal-like collection of Andersen's impressions on protest in the 1970's.


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


May 4 Collection -- Box 188
Folder -- Contents

  1. Gym Annex Protest: View of Taylor Hall with Drumm sculpture and Pagoda, 1977
  2. Gym Annex Protest: Drumm sculpture with bullet hole, 1977
  3. Gym Annex Protest: Pagoda, 1977
  4. Gym Annex Protest: B'nai B'rith memorial marker at Prentice Hall parking lot, 1977
  5. Gym Annex Protest: B'nai B'rith memorial marker at Prentice Hall parking lot, 1977
  6. Gym Annex Protest: "Remember Kent State" sticker on restricted area warning sign, 1977
  7. Gym Annex Protest: Restricted area warning sign, 1977
  8. Gym Annex Protest: Lorraine Ellithorp in front of Taylor Hall, summer, 1977
  9. Gym Annex Protest: Lorraine Ellithorp, summer, on campus, "clowning," 1977
  10. Gym Annex Protest: Policeman guarding Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  11. Gym Annex Protest: Policeman guarding Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  12. Gym Annex Protest: Policeman on roof, September 17, 1977
  13. Gym Annex Protest: Police at Gym Annex construction site, 1977
  14. Gym Annex Protest: Police at Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  15. Gym Annex Protest: Police at Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  16. Gym Annex Protest: Police at Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  17. Gym Annex Protest: Police at Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  18. Gym Annex Protest: Police at Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  19. Gym Annex Protest: Police at Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  20. Gym Annex Protest: Police and protesters shortly before first confrontation, September 17, 1977
  21. Gym Annex Protest: Fattima Abdullah and Mary Mosher, removing first tree from Blanket Hill, September 17, 1977
  22. Gym Annex Protest: Watching first tree being carried off the hill, 1977
  23. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters watching tree removal from behind police barricade, September 17, 1977
  24. Gym Annex Protest: Tree removal behind police on horseback, September 17, 1977
  25. Gym Annex Protest: Tree removal behind police on horseback, September 17, 1977
  26. Gym Annex Protest: Police guarding Gym Annex construction site, September 17, 1977
  27. Gym Annex Protest: Spray painted graffiti on Music & Speech Building, September 24, 1977
  28. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters on Commons and on hill by Taylor Hall, September 24, 1977
  29. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters on Commons and on hill by Taylor Hall, September 24, 1977
  30. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters with signs and banners on hill by Taylor Hall, September 24, 1977
  31. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters holding banners, September 24, 1977
  32. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters heading up hill behind Taylor Hall, September 24, 1977
  33. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters gathered on hill behind Taylor Hall, September 24, 1977
  34. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters at Risman Plaza by Library and fountain, September 24, 1977
  35. Gym Annex Protest: Police formation on hill by Taylor Hall, October 22, 1977
  36. Gym Annex Protest: Police in riot gear by Art Building, October 22, 1977
  37. Gym Annex Protest: Protesters marching with banner, October 22, 1977
  38. Gym Annex Protest: Police guarding Gym Annex construction site, October 22, 1977
  39. Gym Annex Protest: Gym Annex groundbreaking, October 22, 1977
  40. Baez, Joan Sr. letters to Andersen, September 6 and November 18, 1977, and Andersen's comments
  41. Restraining order against the student encampment, July 11, 1977
  42. Commentary by Andersen regarding events of 1970-1977, July 1977, with February 29, 2000 addendum