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Legal Documents Related to the Kent State Shootings

Special Collections and Archives

Legal Documents Related to the Kent State Shootings

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Special Collections and Archives

Legal Documents Related to the Kent State Shootings

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Repository:
Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Title:
Legal Documents Related to the Kent State Shootings
Inclusive Date(s):
1970-1978
Bulk Date(s):
1970-1975
Author:
Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Campion, April 2022
Creation:
Finding aid encoded by Elizabeth Campion using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2022
Description Rules:
Finding aid prepared using DACS 2nd Edition
Origination:
Kent State University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and Archives
Extent:
0.33 cubic feet (1 document case)
Physical Location:
12th floor (May 4 Collection, Box 6)
Finding Aid Identifier:
OhKeUSC0213
Abstract:
This collection contains selected court documents, press releases, trial notes, and indictments related to the 1970 Kent State Shootings and their aftermath.
Language(s):
The records are in English.

History of Legal Documents Related to the Kent State Shootings

This collection was compiled by the Department of Special Collections and Archives at Kent State University. It contains materials acquired by the Kent State University Libraries from a variety of sources related to litigation and trials that occurred in the aftermath of the May 4, 1970, Kent State shootings. See Legal Cases Chronology for more information on the various legal cases related to the shootings and aftermath.

Scope and Content

The collection contains various court documents, legal notes, associated press releases, and indictments in the early to mid-1970s.

Statement of Arrangement

This collection has been arranged alphabetically by legal case.

Related Material

Researchers can find many other legal documents and related materials in several other May 4 collections by using the May 4 Collection Index page and viewing collections under "Legal Cases, Litigation." Further information concerning Kenneth J. Hammond can be found in the Kenneth J. Hammond papers.

Preferred Citation

Legal Documents Related to the Kent State Shootings. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Accruals

Additional materials will be added to the collection as they are received over time.

Controlled Access Headings

The following are found in this collection:

Subjects:

  • Kent State Shootings, Kent, Ohio, 1970 -- Trials, litigation, etc.

Functions:

  • Procedure (Law)

Occupations:

  • Lawyers
  • Legal assistants
  • Courts -- Officials and employees

Material Types:

  • Trial and arbitral proceedings
  • Internal notes
  • Press releases
  • Legal instruments
  • Records (Documents)

Detailed Description of the Collection

Box 6 / Folder 1
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Brief Release, May 4, 1976
Scope and Content: ACLU Director, Benson A. Wolman, submitted a release for an appeal by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (in Cincinnati).
Box 6 / Folder 2
Arthur Krause, et al. v. James A. Rhodes, et al., 1973-1978
Scope and Content: Civil trial notes sent by ACLU paralegal, Galen Keller to her sister, Nancy B. Richardson in 1990. Contains scrap notes passed between lawyers during various court hearings. Includes letter of correspondence from Galen Keller to Nancy B. Richardson.
Box 6 / Folder 3
Kenneth J. Hammond et al. v. Paul W. Brown, et al. (No. C 70-998 and No. C 70-1039), 1970
Scope and Content: Contains the Memorandum and Order of the plaintiffs Kenneth J. Hammond, et al. Submitted to the United States District Court Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division and signed by United States District Judge William K. Thomas.
Box 6 / Folder 4
Kenneth J. Hammond et al. v. Paul W. Brown, et al., October 16, 1970
Scope and Content: Complaint of plaintiff Kenneth J. Hammond et al. Submitted to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division by foreman, Robert R. Hastings. Signed by Judge of Common Pleas Court, Edwin W. Jones.
Box 6 / Folder 5
State of Ohio v. Michael Brock (Case No. K 7070), May 17, 1971
Scope and Content: Transcript of evidence adduced in Portage County Municipal Court, Case No. K 7070.
Box 6 / Folder 6
United States of America v. Lawrence Shafer et al., April 1, 1974
Scope and Content: Actual Indictment of three counts for USA v. Lawrence Shafer, James McGee, William Perkins, James Pierce, Ralph Zoller, Mathew McManus, Barry Morris, and Leon Smith.

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