Kenneth John Bissett Family Collection
An inventory of the collection at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at Syracuse University.
Summary |
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| Creator: | Bissett family. |
| Title: | Kenneth John Bissett Family Collection |
| Dates: | 1967-2014 |
| Size: | 8.5 linear feet |
| Abstract: | Materials related to Kenneth Bissett, one of 35 Syracuse University study abroad students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/pan-am-103 |
Biography
Kenneth John Bissett (1967-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. He was a Cornell University junior studying with Syracuse University's Division of International Program Abroad (DIPA). He was concerned about terrorism and turned the subject into his advertising project in London. Ken had hoped to become a writer, and while he had been enrolled in the engineering program, he transferred to communications. Ken, an only child, was survived by his parents, John and Florence Bissett of Hartsdale, New York.
Scope and Content Note
The Kenneth John Bissett Family Collection contains the following series:
Audiovisual consists of a recording of the memorial service held in Ken's honor at Cornell University on February 1, 1989; "Recollections from Cornell" featuring a roommate and a neighbor of Ken's; and My Lost Son, a documentary about Ken's birth mother, Carol King Eckersley.
Artwork contains Ken's drawings, original comic books, paintings, and sketches. The majority of the material consists of superhero character sketches, both original and of his favorite Marvel heroes, as well as drafts and final versions of his own comic books and story lines.
Clippings is made up of two files. The first contains clippings reporting on the National Merit Scholars, an award Ken received. The second file is dedicated to articles relating to the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster.
Correspondence contains personal cards and letters written by and to Ken, as well as sympathy cards and letters to Ken's parents, John and Florence Bissett. The series also includes correspondence regarding Ken's study abroad.
Memorabilia consists of graduation tassels, ribbons, a varsity letter patch, and a paper graduation decoration.
Photographs includes albums and loose photographs from Ken's infancy to college years. Also included are photographs of memorials in Lockerbie, Scotland.
Printed material consists of awards and certificates, diplomas and programs, as well as material from memorials and services.
Writingscontains examples of Ken's course work and creative writing from elementary school through college. Please note some materials in this series contain outdated terminology and potentially harmful language. The language contained in these materials was prevalent at the time of their creation, although no less potentially harmful than today. The materials are preserved and presented for their historic and research value.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.
Access to audiovisual material requires advance notice to produce a use copy.
Use Restrictions
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.
Related Material
The Pan Am Flight 103 Archives contains additional materials and information related to the Kenneth John Bissett Family Collection. Related collections include:
Selected Search Terms
Names
Subjects
Types of material
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Kenneth John Bissett Family Collection,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Gift of John and Florence Bissett in 1990, Raymond Zaccardi in 2003, and Susie Taylor and Brian O. Earle in 2014.
Processing Information
Materials were placed in acid-free folders and boxes.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Diana Chavez
Date: 2013
Revision history: Mar 2015 - Stylistic changes (VSOM);
Jun 2016 - New accessions integrated, Scope and Content updated (VSOM);
Feb 2018 - Stylistic changes (VSOM);
Apr 2021 - Oversize items reboxed, extent updated (VSOM);
Aug 2023 - Scope and Content updated (VSOM);
Jul 2024 - Media processed, collection rehoused and extent recalculated
(VSOM)
Inventory
| Artwork | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Character sketches 1979, 1980, 1984, undated | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | Character sketches 1979, 1981, undated | ||||||||||
| MC 21-4 | Character sketches 1980 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Comic books March 1979 - May
1979, 1981, undated Star Knight comic book |
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| Box 1 | Loose comics March 1979, 1980, undated Utonic Man comic book cover |
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| Oversize 1 | Model car, Cub Scout den 4 pine wood derby undated | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | Schoolwork undated Tokyo Has Fallen Bowing Down |
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| Box 1 | Self portraits 1973, undated | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | Self portraits undated | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Vehicle sketches 1976, undated Armageddon, drawing of fighter jets |
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| Clippings | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Merit Scholars award undated | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Pan Am Flight 103 disaster January 1989, 2006, undated Obituary from The Student Voice |
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| Correspondence | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Administrative 14 June 1985-30 November 1988, undated | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Marvel Comics undated Letter to Marvel Comics |
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| Box 1 | Personal correspondence of Ken Bissett 14 June 1981-17 November 1988, undated | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Sympathy cards and letters December 1988-January
1990, undated
(2 folders)
Letter from Florence Bissett to Georgia Nucci |
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| Memorabilia | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Graduation and school memorabilia 1981, 1985, undated | ||||||||||
| Photographs | |||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Album circa 1967-1988 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Baby circa 1967-1968 Baby photo Newborn photo |
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| Box 2 | Childhood June 1973, November 1978, undated Ken Bissett on a ride in Hershey, Pennsylvania |
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| Box 2 | High school and college 1981-1982, 1985, January 1988, undated Ken Bissett Ken Bissett in the United Kingdom Ken Bissett posing with gargoyle statue |
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| Box 2 | Memorials in Lockerbie undated | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Posters undated | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | School projects undated | ||||||||||
| Printed material | |||||||||||
| Box 2 | Awards and certificates 24 March 1977-3 June 1985 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Diplomas 7 June 1973-12 June 1981 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Disneyworld 28 May 1987 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Letterhead 1984 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Membership cards undated | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Memorials circa 1989 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Memorial services January 1989-June
1990, undated Program for memorial service at Sacred Heart Church The Day of the Longest Night memorial service |
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| Box 2 | Programs May 1981-June 1985, undated | ||||||||||