Collection inventory

Special Collections home page

Kenneth John Bissett Family Collection

An inventory of the collection at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at Syracuse University.


Finding aid created by: Diana Chavez
Date: 2013

Biography

Kenneth John Bissett

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:

On Eagles' Wings Collection

Pan Am 103 Individuals Collection

Remembrance Quilt Collection

Selected Search Terms

Names

Bissett family.
Bissett, Kenneth John, 1965-1988.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing Incident, 1988.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States -- Case Studies.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States -- History.
Terrorism -- Government Policy -- United States.
Terrorism -- History -- 20th Century.
Lockerbie (Scotland)

Types of Material

Audiocassettes.
Comic books.
Correspondence.
DVDs.
Pencil drawings.
Photograph albums.
Photographs.
Works of art.

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.

Arrangement

The Kenneth John Bissett Family Collection is arranged alphabetically.

Table of Contents

Artwork

Audiovisual

Clippings

Correspondence

Memorabilia

Photographs

Printed material

Writings

Inventory