General Information

Title:

Anastasia Pantsios Collection

Dates:

Inclusive, 1978-1985, 1993, undated

Extent:

0.21 Linear feet (1 half Hollinger box) 

Language:

English

Processing Information:

Processed by Jennie Thomas, Head Archivist. Completed March 4, 2011. Revised by Anastasia Karel, Archivist. Completed May 17, 2013. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of Item], Anastasia Pantsios Collection, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Collection Overview

The Anastasia Pantsios Collection spans the years 1978 to 1993. The collection consists of photographs and radio station playlists. The photographs provide visual evidence of performers who have appeared in Cleveland, Ohio over the course of nearly two decades, on and off stage. Comparatively, the playlists represent what was being played on the radio in Cleveland during that same time. Seen in a broader context, the collection provides documentation of performers who have appeared in Cleveland over the years, as well as their public persona and dress. The collection also provides insight into the performers who allowed themselves and their performances to be photographed by female rock photographers, as women were finally gaining a foothold in the ranks, led by Rolling Stone's Annie Leibovitz. As women became more numerous and prominent on rock and roll stages in the 1980s and beyond, Pantsios developed a special interest in the visual study of the changing and diverse ways rock musicians presented themselves while making music.

Biographical Note

Anastasia Pantsios’ casual interest in photography became a driving passion while she was at Case Western Reserve University pursuing a degree in theater in the early ’70s with the goal of being a lighting designer. While shooting theater productions for the CWRU newspaper, she started toting her camera to concerts downtown at Public Hall by groups like Led Zeppelin, the Who, and Crosby Stills and Nash.

Publication in local underground papers led to Pantsios' work appearing in national publications like CREEM, Circus, and Hit Parader. In 1978, she started Kaleyediscope Photography with two other women photographers to market their work. They felt that forming a company would help them overcome the business' tendency to regard women rock photographers as groupies. Kaleyediscope existed until the mid-1980s when the founders’ interests took them in different directions. Regardless, it springboarded Pantsios into a productive decade when her work appeared nationally and internationally in publications like Rolling Stone, Spin, Village Voice, Esquire, National Enquirer, Goldmine, Guitar World, USA Today, and People; and in books on Van Halen, Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, Motley Crue, David Bowie, the Pretenders, U2, Judas Priest, the Plasmatics, Scorpions, Todd Rundgren, Joe Walsh, and Eric Clapton; as well as general-interest rock books, like Norm N. Nite's Rock On Almanac.

In addition, Pantsios' work has appeared on album covers for Eric Clapton, Southside Johnny, Patti LaBelle, Kathy Mattea, AC/DC, Styx, Kurtis Blow, and Robert Palmer, among others. She has done numerous gallery shows in Cleveland and recently curated "Visual Music: Northeast Ohio Photographers Look at Rock and Roll" at the We Gallery in Akron. In 2011, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum put on an exhibit of her photographs, entitled "Girls on Film: 40 Years of Women in Rock." The Rock Hall also featured her in an interview for its "Songwriters to Soundmen" series.

Pantsios is currently a staff writer for Scene, where she also shoots news stories and food.

Sources

"Girls on Film: 40 Years of Women in Rock." Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Accessed March 4, 2011. http://rockhall.com/exhibits/girls-on-film/.

"Songwriters to Soundmen Featuring Photographer Anastasia Pantsios." Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Accessed March 4, 2011. http://rockhall.com/event/anastasia-pantsios/.

Accruals

Accruals are filed at the end of the collection.

Related Archival Materials note

This collection is a part of the Northeast Ohio Popular Music Archives at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Library and Archives. Other library and archival materials related to popular music in the Northeast Ohio area can be found in this Archives.

Custodial History

The Anastasia Pantsios Collection was received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. as gifts from Anastasia Pantsios on February 8, 2011 and January 20, 2013.

Restrictions

Use

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Those photos that are not the copyright of Anastasia Pantsios have been noted individually. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.

Access

Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.