Kevin M. O'Connor Student Life Collection, 1988-2022 [Bulk 1988-1992]

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

• Kevin M. O'Connor Student Life Collection, 1988-1992, 2017-2022

Description

Content Description

Fliers, printed matter, clippings, programs, correspondence, artifacts, and A/V content documenting the student experiences of Kevin M. O'Connor and his friends between 1988 and 1992. Content includes materials related to life in his suite dubbed the Existential Despair Suite (EDS), events at the Postcrypt Art Gallery and Coffeehouse housed in the basement of St. Paul's Chapel, and the Columbia Outdoor Orientation Program (COOP). There are also photographs of him and his friends from Spring 1991 and Commencement 1992. Three items of audio-visual content: featuring a news report about the Postcrypt Gallery from 1991, an original song performed at the Furnald Folk Fest in 1991, and a performance/reading by Allen Ginsberg at St. Paul's Chapel in 1990.

• Kevin M. O'Connor Student Life Collection, 1988-1992, 2017-2022

  Fliers, printed matter, clippings, programs, correspondence, artifacts, and A/V content documenting the student experiences of Kevin M. O'Connor and his friends between 1988 and 1992. Content includes materials related to life in his suite dubbed the Existential Despair Suite (EDS), events at the Postcrypt Art Gallery and Coffeehouse housed in the basement of St. Paul's Chapel, and the Columbia Outdoor Orientation Program (COOP). There are also photographs of him and his friends from Spring 1991 and Commencement 1992. Three items of audio-visual content: featuring a news report about the Postcrypt Gallery from 1991, an original song performed at the Furnald Folk Fest in 1991, and a performance/reading by Allen Ginsberg at St. Paul's Chapel in 1990. PDFs of many of the doucments, a digital copy of the descriptive essay and a spreadsheet detailing many of the items was created by the donor. Please contact the University Archives staff for access to this digital content. Overall, this content provides an interesting view of how students communicated and expressed themselves in a time before social media outlets.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Conditions Governing Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is stored off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

Single reproductions may be made for research purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to secure permission for publication or use from the appropriate copyright holder.

The RBML cannot provide access to original time-based media material which has not been first been reformatted for preservation. Researchers are welcome to examine archival time-based media items and decide whether they wish to place an order for Audio/Video reformatting. If copyright and/or condition restrictions apply, it may not be possible to digitize a requested item. Please note that A/V reformatting is handled by an outside vendor and typically takes 6-8 weeks.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Kevin M. O'Connor Student Life Collection; Box and Folder; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Kevin M. O'Connor, 2022.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jocelyn Wilk, July 2022.

Revision Description

2022-07-01 Published finding aid (JW)

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Kevin M. O'Connor was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1970. He is a 1988 graduate of William H. Hall High School and attended Columbia College from 1988-1992, graduating with a BA degree in Religion in 1992. During his years at Columbia Kevin was part of a suite that dubbed itself the "Existential Despair Suite". He also particpated in the Postcrypt Art Gallery and Coffeehouse, Columbia Outdoor Orientation Program (COOP), worked in Earl Hall, and organized three events called DespairFest. Since college, he has pursued a career in media and licensing, always working at the intersection of creative and business in TV, toys, t-shirts, music, and publishing. He continues to live in Morningside Heights.