ASK ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

The Peter L. Goss Photograph Collection includes photographs taken by Goss, an Ohio University alumnus (Ph.D. ‘73, Comparative Arts), of Ohio University and the surrounding area from 1966-1970. Goss took the photographs as part of his academic studies and his work as a freelancer for the Columbus Dispatch. His collection includes campus photographs of demonstrations that were part of the nationwide Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, protests after the May 4, 1970 shootings at Kent State University, and events such as the Black Showcase, commencement, and football games. Goss’ off-campus photography documents vernacular architecture exemplified through brick structures, churches, barns, and bridges and local community gatherings at the Athens County Fair, auctions, and motorcycle races. 

In-Person Access

The collection is open for research but is unprocessed. Contact the Mahn Center for more information about the collection. 

The Peter L. Goss Photograph Collection is stored at the Hwa-Wei Lee Library Annex (205 Columbus Rd., Athens, OH 45701). Schedule an appointment at least one week in advance to ensure that materials are available for viewing. Researchers may be asked to visit the Library Annex instead of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections (5th floor of Alden Library).  

Digital Access

Browse digitized items from the collection 

Faculty are encouraged to reach out to the Mahn Center to discuss how the digital collection can support their classes. 

Photographs from the Peter L. Goss Photograph Collection can be viewed in the following online exhibits by Ohio University Libraries: 

Framing Time: The Photographic Legacy of Peter Goss, 1966-1970
A digital exhibit exploring the photographs of alumnus Peter Goss, focusing on his time photographing the Athens area.

Since 1804: Glimpses of People and Places of Athens & OHIO
A digital exhibit celebrating Founders Day 2021. See images from the Goss collection in the section “The ‘60s and the ‘70s.
 

About Peter L. Goss

Peter L. Goss holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Fairfield University, a Master's in Library Science from Syracuse University and a Ph.D. in Comparative Arts from Ohio University where he completed his thesis “An Investigation of Olana, the Home of Frederic Edwin Church, Painter.” He was a professor of architectural history at the University of Utah where he also served as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students (1991-1995), Director of the Center for Architectural Studies (1995-1999), and Associate Vice President of Research for Scholarly & Creative Activities (1999-2003). Goss has been involved as a consultant and photographer on numerous historic preservation projects. His own research has included work on the Arts & Crafts Movement and architecture in Utah and the western United States, including architecture of the range sheep industry. Goss retired from the University of Utah in 2009.