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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Special Collections and Archives

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Special Collections and Archives

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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FAQ Categories

Appraisal and Preservation

Question Answer

I have book that I believe may be valuable. How can I find an appraiser?

Special Collections & Archives cannot provide appraisals. Determining a book's value requires expertise in the subject matter and the rare and/or used book market.  

To find a qualified appraiser, please consider the following resources:

How do I find someone to repair or conserve a book, photograph, or other item?

While Special Collections & Archives does not recommend specific conservators or repair services, the Ohio Preservation Council provides preservation resources and information that may help you locate qualified professionals.

May 4, 1970 (Kent State Shootings)

Question Answer

Who is responsible for planning the Annual May 4 Commemoration?

Currently, the Office of the President is responsible for planning. Please contact president [at] kent.edu for more information.

Where can I find photographs, films, audio recordings, and other media related to the Kent State Shootings?

The May 4 Collection contains more than 50,000 digitized items including photographs, recordings, oral history interviews, and documents related to the Kent State Shootings. The digitized items can be found in the Kent State Shootings: Digital Archive. For items that are not available online, materials can be accessed by scheduling an in-person appointment by contacting Special Collections and Archives.

Who were the students killed and wounded on May 4, 1970?

On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were killed, and nine others were wounded. 

The four students who were killed were:

  • Allison Krause, age 19, a freshman in the Honors College from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

  • Jeffrey Glen Miller, age 20, a sophomore psychology major from Plainview, Long Island, New York. 

  • Sandra Lee Scheuer, age 20, a junior majoring in speech and hearing therapy from Youngstown, Ohio. 

  • William Knox Schroeder, age 19, a sophomore psychology major from Lorain, Ohio. 

The nine students who were wounded were:

  • Alan Canfora, age 21; Barberton, Ohio

  • John Cleary, age 19; Scotia, New York

  • Thomas Mark Grace, age 20; Syracuse, New York

  • Dean Kahler, age 20; Canton, Ohio

  • Joseph Lewis; Massillon, Ohio

  • Donald Scott MacKenzie; Summit Station, Pennsylvania

  • Dennis Russell; Teaneck, New York

  • Robert Stamps, age 19; South Euclid, Ohio

  • Douglas Wrentmore, age 20; Northfield, Ohio

What was the effect of the shootings on enrollment?

These statistics reflect full time enrollment on the Kent campus only taken from Fall quarters or semesters, from 1969-1995.

1969: 21,198; 1970: 21,370; 1971: 20,794; 1972: 19,755; 1973: 18,559; 1974: 18,458; 1975: 20,060; 1976: 20,374; 1977: 19,353; 1978: 18,331; 1979: 17,796; 1980: 18,938; 1981: 19,660; 1982: 19,615; 1983: 19,687; 1984: 20,066; 1985: 20,173; 1986: 20,830; 1987: 21,503; 1988: 22,753; 1989: 22,727; 1990: 24,434; 1991: 24,524; 1992: 24,099; 1993: 22,700; 1994: 21,413; 1995: 20,972

Why was there no Daily Kent Stater published on May 4, 1970 and the following weeks?

There was no issue published on Monday, May 4, 1970, as during this time period, the paper was published only on Tuesday-Friday during the regular term, despite its title indicating it was a daily. Campus was closed for several weeks following the May 4, 1970, shootings and students were sent home. Publication of the paper was suspended and did not resume until the June 26, 1970, issue of the Kent State University Summer News after students returned to campus.

Note: During the 15th anniversary of the shootings, on May 3, 1985, the Stater published a special issue in which the first two pages reflected what the headlines and stories might have been, had the paper been published on May 5, 1970. Although it appears to be an actual May 5, 1970, issue, it was published as part of a feature issue, fifteen years later.

Can Special Collections and Archives grant permission or authorize use of the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by John Filo, showing Mary Ann Vecchio kneeling over Jeffrey Miller after the Kent State Shootings?

No, this photograph is not part of our collection, and we are unable to grant authorization, permissions, or reproduction rights for its use. The image is widely distributed through Getty Images, which manages licensing for the photograph. For permissions, licensing, or reproduction requests, please contact Getty Images: John Filo.

Kent State University History 

Question Answer

When was KSU founded?

On May 19, 1910, Ohio Governor Judson Harmon approved the Lowry Bill, denoting that Kent, Ohio become the home of a normal school (i.e., a two-year school for training teachers). Classes for Kent State Normal School began in 1913. In 1915, due to the expansion of curriculum and the addition of four-year degrees, the Board changed the school's name to Kent State Normal College. In 1929, the school's name was changed to Kent State College. Finally, in 1935, with proposed new schools of business administration and graduate programs having been added to the curriculum, the State of Ohio House and Senate approved a bill that designated Kent State College as a university. The school's name was then changed to Kent State University.

Do you have a list of all of KSU presidents up to today? 
  1. John Edward McGilvrey (1911-1926); (2-year degree in education; BA in philosophy; honorary doctorate in philosophy)
  2. David Allen Anderson (1926-1928); (AB, AM, and PhD in education and philosophy)
  3. James Ozro Engleman (1928-1938); (2-year degree in education; BA, MA, and PhD in education)
  4. Karl Clayton Leebrick (1938-1943); (BS, MS, PhD in law, history and political science)
    - Raymond M. Clark (1943-1944 Acting President); (b.1891-d. )
  5. George A. Bowman (1944-1963); (AB and MA education and liberal arts)
  6. Robert I. White (1963-1971); (PhB, MA, and PhD in education)
  7. Glenn A. Olds (1971-1977); (AB, MA, and Phd in philosophy; BD)
  8. Brage Golding (1977-1982); (BA and PhD in chemical engineering)
  9. Michael Schwartz (1982-1991); (BA in psychology; MA in industrial relations; PhD in sociology)
  10. Carol A. Cartwright (1991-2006); (BA; MA and PhD in special education)
  11. Lester Lefton (2006-2014); (BA and PhD in psychology)
  12. Beverly Warren (July 1, 2014-July 1, 2019); (BS; MS; Ed.D. in administration of higher education; Ph.D. in exercise physiology)
  13. Todd Diacon (July 1, 2019- present); (B.A. in history; M.A. and Ph.D. in Latin American history)

What is the KSU mascot?

Kent State University has had several mascot characters over the years, including:

  • Silver Foxes - Named in honor of President McGilvrey, who had a silver fox ranch for a time.

  • Golden Flashes - Name submitted and selected in a contest in 1926 by a KSU student. Winner received $25.00 prize. Subsequently perpetuated by Oliver Wolcott of the Kent Courier Tribune.

  • Flasher - In 1951, a golden retriever was adopted as team mascot.

  • Grog - In 1966, the cartoon character was recreated in paper hair and plaster. Remained on the scene on and off through the 1970s.

  • Golden Flasher - A golden palomino horse and masked rider in blue and gold, 1972 and 1973 seasons.

  • Golden Flash - A masked figure with lightening bolts in each hand, 1973-1975.

  • Flash - Our present, official mascot, a golden eagle. 

Kent State University Archives 

Question Answer

Are any university archives materials available online? 

Yes! Below are links to some of our readily available resources: 

The Daily Kent Stater student newspaper archive going back to 1926 is online and text searchable.  

The Chestnut Burr yearbooks, which were published published from 1914 through 1985. 

The Kent State History Digital Archive also contains a small portion or our historical photographs, maps, and documents from the university archives.

These only represent a small portion of our university archives. You can view a full list of processed university history collections here: Browse Kent State University History Collections

How can I access KSU theses and dissertations?

The University Archives used to receive a copy of all printed theses and dissertations. Starting around the mid-2000s theses and dissertations were submitted and made available through the OhioLINK Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Center (ETD).

For theses and dissertations not represented in the ETD Center, especially works from before the 2008, there may be a circulating bound copy of each thesis or dissertation in the main library stacks. Special Collections & Archives, also maintains and archival copy for printed theses and dissertations that do not circulate. This copy can either be used onsite in the Special Collections & Archives reading room or a duplication may be requested through Interlibrary Loan. If you know the author or title of the thesis or dissertation you can perform a LIBRARYsearch to find its location.

Do you have materials on former KSU students?

The University Archives does not maintain records for every student, faculty, or staff member that has been affiliated with Kent State University. We do try to collect records for athletics, student organizations, distinguished faculty papers, and alumni papers specific to a student’s activities while at KSU or involvement with KSU post-graduation.

Saalfield Publishing Co.

Question Answer

Where can I find information on a Saalfield author or illustrator?

Special Collections & Archives does not have information files on most Saalfield authors and illustrators. Instead we have examples of their publications. Your local library may be able to help you to track down biographical information about Saalfield authors and illustrators. Reference works such as Something About the Author and Contemporary Authors (published by Gale) may include the person you are researching. 

How did Kent State University acquire the Saalfield Publishing Company collection?

In 1977, the Saalfield Publishing Company ceased operations. During the process of liquidating the company's property, a large collection of Saalfield publications was discovered in a room in one of the former Saalfield buildings. Kent State University Libraries offered to purchase this material for $4,000 in 1977 and was able to raise the funds for the purchase through an anonymous donation, a gift from Mr. and Mrs. A. Clarke Mack, and some library funds. The materials in this archive are part of the Department's collection development emphasis in children's literature.

I have a Saalfield book that does not include a publication date. Can you tell me in what year it was published?

Many of the books published by Saalfield were issued without dates. In most cases, it is difficult for us to determine a precise date. The binding style, illustrations, and other features of the book often can provide clues to an estimated time period of publication.

Special Collections & Archives: How to Use Materials

Question Answer

Are any of the materials in Special Collections & Archives protected by copyright? Can I use these materials for a project or publication?

Although some materials in Special Collections & Archives are part of the public domain, the majority of materials in the collection are protected under copyright laws. In many instances, Special Collections & Archives does not own the copyright for the materials in its collections. In these cases, it is the responsibility of the user to secure formal, written permission from the copyright owner(s) in order to use the materials in a publication or other type of project. However, in most cases, the Department can provide duplications of materials for personal research use. Please view the department's Duplication Guidelines & Protocols for more information.

Why can't I check out materials in Special Collections & Archives?

Due to the fragile, unique, and/or rare nature of materials in the collection, they must be used in the reading room and cannot be checked out. In many cases, replacement of damaged or lost materials would be difficult, if not impossible. These security and handling policies help to ensure that rare materials are preserved and available for future research use.

Special Collections & Archives: Donations & Gifts

Question Answer

I have an item or collection I want to donate to Special Collections & Archives. 

Thank you for your interest in our collections. Special Collections and Archives has established collecting priorities based on existing strengths, responsiveness to research needs, and emerging areas of interest. Please review our Collection Development Guidelines to learn more.

I would like to make a monetary donation in support of Special Collections & Archives. How do I do that?

We are grateful for financial support of our collections, services, and programs. To make an online donation, visit the Support University Libraries page and click the yellow Support University Libraries button. This will take you to the online giving form. Under "What would you like your donation to support?", select "University Libraries Special Collections Fund - 11258" from the drop-down menu.

If you prefer to donate by check, select the Ways to Give tab for instructions on making a gift by mail and information about other giving options.

 

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