Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers, 1967-2013

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Summary

Creator:
Lowenstein family.
Abstract:
Materials relating to Alexander Lowenstein, one of the 35 students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 while returning from studying abroad through Syracuse University's Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA), and materials relating to Suse Lowenstein's sculpture Dark Elegy
Extent:
13 linear feet, 20 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers,

Background

Scope and content:

The Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers contain ten series.

The Artwork series contains Alex's artwork and sketches.

Audiovisual materials consist of film and audio recordings that represent Alex's hobbies, interests, and extracurriculars. The video recordings include footage of Alex surfing and spending time at the beach with his family, participating in a competition at his high school, and performing in a theater production called "Park Place." All videos have been converted to DVD. This series also contains Alex's collection of audiocassettes, including original albums and homemade mixtapes.

Clippings contains full newspapers and clippings relating to Alex's life and memorialization, the bombing of Pan Am 103 and the subsequent trials, and terrorism generally. Of special interest may be the clippings from the two years before Alex's death and those related to the Camp Zeist trial in the Netherlands.

The Correspondence series contains Alexander Lowenstein's personal correspondence, condolences, general correspondence files and correspondence with people in Lockerbie. Many of the letters from people in Lockerbie contain photographs as inserts.

The Dark Elegy series documents the sculpture created by Suse Lowenstein. Clippings, correspondence, photographs and writings related to Dark Elegy are located in this series. It also includes information about exhibitions of Dark Elegy.

Personal objects includes items that belonged to Alex. Items recovered from the crash site at Lockerbie are not included in this series.

Photographs and negatives contains digitized photographs from a photo album the Lowenstein family temporarily loaned the Archives, and physical photographs of Alex with his friends and family. Of special interest to researchers may be photographs from his semester studying abroad in 1988, depicting London and trips to Amsterdam, and photographs developed from film found at the crash site.

Subject files contains topical files of general interest, as well as all of Alex's personal materials from the crash site. Many of Alex's personal papers and photographs from fall 1988 are in this series. Additionally, there is a copy of Senate Resolution 727 signed by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Researchers may also be interested in the maps used to plot locations of victims' bodies as well as Pan Am 103 passenger statistics, including a seating chart for the Boeing 747.

Writings contains Alex's class notebooks, exam books, and papers he wrote as a student at Syracuse University. Writings about Alex or the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster are also housed here.

Biographical / historical:

Lowenstein, Alexander

Alexander Lowenstein (1967-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. He was one of the 35 Syracuse University students traveling home after a semester abroad. Alexander (also known as Alex or Alexi) was an English major, but hoped to pursue a degree in clinical psychology so he could work in a psychiatric clinic after he graduated. Alex was a brother in the Zeta Psi fraternity at Syracuse University and sat on the Inter-fraternity Council.

"Alexander was very special. His ability to fully enjoy life; to make us laugh; to draw his peers to him; to make us love him," his parents recall. Alex was a water person who loved surfing and scuba diving near his parents' home in Montauk on Long Island. He was survived by his parents Suse and Peter and his brother Lucas.

Suse Lowenstein is an accomplished sculptor; her work Dark Elegy has garnered much acclaim and commentary over the years and has served as a reminder of the evils of terrorism. Dark Elegy consists of 75 individual sculptures depicting women at the moment they learned their loved one had been killed on Pan Am Flight 103. Each figure was sculpted from life. Dark Elegy is dedicated to all victims of terrorism.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Peter and Suse Lowenstein.
Processing information:

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Arrangement:

The Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers are arranged alphabetically by series. Some sections are arranged chronologically.

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions for this collection.

Terms of access:

Written permission must be obtained from the Pan Am Flight 103 Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Preferred citation:

Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers,

Location of this collection:
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Bird Library, Room 600
Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
315.443.2697
scrc@syr.edu