Repository:

Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Title:

Kent State University Student Government May 4 records

Inclusive Date(s):

1969-1972

Bulk Date(s):

1970

Author:

Finding aid prepared by Anita Clary

Sponsor:

Digitization of this collection was funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Creation:

Finding aid encoded by Anita Clary using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2016

Description Rules:

Finding aid prepared using DACS 2nd Edition

Origination:

Kent State University. Student Government

Extent:

.5 cubic feet (1 half size record storage box, 1 oversized folder)

Physical Location:

12th floor (May 4 Collection, Box 1); 11th floor (map case)

Finding Aid Identifier:

OhKeUSC0176

Abstract:

This collection contains responses from individuals and groups that were sent to Kent State University Student Government in the months after the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970, as well as related materials produced by Student Government members.

Revision(s):

April 2017 - Revised by Haley Antell

Language(s):

The records are in English.

History of Kent State University Student Government

The 1970 student government at Kent State University operated under a constitution approved by the Board of Trustees in 1965. There were three branches of student government: executive, legislative (Student Senate), and judicial. The student government election campaign was underway when the university was closed following the shootings of May 4, 1970. Craig Morgan was elected student body president in a general campus-wide election that was held by mail-in ballot. Morgan, his vice-president, Thom "TD" Dickerson, and all twenty-five student senators were members of The Student Rights Party which Morgan and Dickerson helped found in 1969. They began their terms when school resumed for summer sessions in June. Additional information about Kent State University Student Government can be found in the KSU Student Handbook ("K" Book) collection in Special Collections and Archives.

Scope and Content

This collection contains responses, sympathetic and otherwise, that were sent to the Student Government by individuals and groups from Ohio, other states, and other countries in response to the events of May 4, 1970. Included in the collection are letters, telegrams, cards, clippings with comments written on them, and flyers, letters, and leaflets from organizations encouraging student activism. Related materials produced by Student Government members include annotated lists and tallies of the responses, an analysis of the Special State Grand Jury by Robert R. Peabody (1970), and Kent State University's Petition to the White House prepared by Bill Gordon, Special Assistant to KSU Student Body President Robert Gage (1972).

Statement of Arrangement

The Kent State University Student Government May 4 records are arranged to reflect the order in which they were received.

Related Material

The Linda Lyke papers (May 4 Collection, Box 61) include letters and telegrams that were sent to student government in response to May 4. Lyke, a faculty member in the School of Art, assembled the correspondence into a student government display for fall quarter 1970. Some of these letters and telegrams are numbered and correspond to the annotated "support" list found in this collection. (Note: Correspondence and telegrams from the Linda Lyke papers have been digitized and can be viewed online.)

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.

Preferred Citation

Kent State University Student Government May 4 records. May 4 Collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Acquisition Information

In 1972, Student Body President Bill Slocum presented the records to Dean Keller, University Libraries. His letter of disposition and Keller's response are included in the collection.

Subject Headings

The following subjects are found in this collection:

Subjects:

• Kent State Shootings, Kent, Ohio, 1970
• College student government--Ohio--Kent
• Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements
• Kent State University--History
• Kent (Ohio)--History

Functions:

• College student government

Occupations:

• College students

Material Types:

• Correspondence
• Telegrams
• Greeting cards
• Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
• Publications
• Petitions

Detailed Description of the Collection