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Finding aid created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn and Jenna Bossert
Date: March 2015
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December 2016 | Inventory added, contents refoldered, organized and processed collection (JNB) |
May 2023 | 2 folders added to Box 20; finding aid updated (HVA) |
June 2023 | Media processed and added as Box 27, inventory updated, linear footage recalculated (VSOM) |
Summary |
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Creator: | Cohen Family. |
Title: | Theodora Cohen Family Papers |
Dates: | 1975-2010 |
Size: | 13.5 linear feet |
Abstract: | Materials related to Theodora Cohen, one of the Syracuse University students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, and her parents, Daniel and Susan Cohen |
Language: | English |
Repository: |
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives, Syracuse University Libraries
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Theodora "Theo" Cohen (1968-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. She was a junior at Syracuse University, studying Drama in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Theo studied abroad during fall semester 1988 at the London Academy of Music and Drama (LAMBDA) through Syracuse University's Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA). She took every theater course she could and went to the theater twice a week in London. Theo also traveled to Greece, Scotland, the Netherlands, and France. She had plans with Miriam Wolfe, another Pan Am 103 victim, and other Syracuse University friends, to start an alternative theater group when they returned to campus.
Theo was born on September 10, 1968 and was the only child of Daniel and Susan Cohen of Port Jervis, New York. She was passionate about acting and singing. Theo's acting career began in the fourth grade, when she received the lead role in a class play. After discovering her life's calling, she dedicated herself to it, acting in every high school, university, and community production available. In high school, Theo performed in productions of Fiddler on the Roof and Gypsy. From her freshman year in high school until 1988, she worked in summer stock at the Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham, New York. She started as an apprentice at Mac-Haydn Theatre and in summer 1988, she played the leading role in their production of The Fantasticks. At Syracuse University, she acted in A Midsummer Night's Dream and numerous other plays. Theo's soprano singing voice and her charismatic acting were only two of her many talents.
She was bright and articulate and her parents described her as "loving and mean, logical and hysterical, cynical and enthusiastic." After Theo's death, Susan and Daniel united with other families of victims to create the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc., an organization devoted to ensuring similar acts of terrorism were prevented. Both writers, Susan and Daniel Cohen have written extensively about Theo, the Pan Am 103 tragedy, and terrorism. Their works include numerous short articles, as well as a book and contributions to journals. They co-authored Pan Am 103: The Bombing, the Betrayals, and a Bereaved Family's Search for Justice and both wrote a chapter "Voice: Theo Was on Pan Am 103" for The Trauma of Terrorism: Sharing Knowledge and Shared Care, An International Handbook by Yael Danieli, Danny Brom, and Joe Sills. This book was co-published as The Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, Volume 9, Numbers 1/2 and 3/4 in 2004 and Volume 10, Numbers 1/2 and 3/4 in 2005.
The Theodora Cohen Family Papers contains information and materials related to Theodora "Theo" Cohen, one of 35 Syracuse University students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 while studying abroad through the university's Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA). The collection is divided into the following series:
Audiovisual materials includes recordings of Theo singing and performing, a remembrance compilation for a memorial service honoring her, and interviews with Daniel and Susan Cohen.
Clippings includes articles from newspapers and magazines that the Cohen family collected regarding the Pan Am 103 bombing, Libya, other terrorist attacks, Theo Cohen, other Pan Am 103 victims, Lockerbie, and memorials.
Correspondence is divided into two subseries. The first subseries includes condolences and other letters to and from Susan and Daniel Cohen. Correspondents include President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton, U.S. and international government figures, reporters, and media executives. The second subseries consists of the correspondence of Others regarding the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster. It includes correspondence of presidents, U.S. government officials, and reporters and media executives.
Manuscripts is divided into two subseries. The first subseries contains writings by Susan and Daniel Cohen, such as various draft manuscript versions of their co-authored book Pan Am 103: The Bombing, the Betrayals, and a Bereaved Family's Search for Justice. Also included are longer written drafts of articles and responses to articles related to the Pan Am 103 bombing. The second subseries contains partial and complete writings by Others related to Pan Am Flight 103, the Lockerbie trial, and terrorism.
Memorials contains materials related to services and memorials in Port Jervis, New York; Lockerbie, Scotland; Syracuse University; and Arlington National Cemetery honoring Theo Cohen and the other victims of the Pan Am 103 tragedy.
Personal effects is divided into two subseries. The first subseries contains materials related to Theodora Cohen and includes playbills, clippings, and photographs of productions she acted in during high school and college, as well as her voter registration card. It also includes letters about scholarship awards, promotional information and documents about DIPA, and posthumous honors in her memory, such as a New York State Legislative Resolution and a Syracuse University Certificate of Student Achievement. The second subseries contains materials owned by or related to Susan and Daniel Cohen. Their Lockerbie trial ID cards, notes regarding Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster, Pan Am 103 pins, and Susan's planner are included. Information regarding the Estate of Theodora Cohen is also included in this subseries.
Photographs is divided into two subseries. The first subseries, Theodora Cohen, includes two photographs of Theo Cohen and Lauren Henry in costume for Halloween. The second subseries, Other, includes photographs of the Peace Time Memorial Plaque at Our Lady of Fatima Assembly, which honors Americans who died in terrorist attacks between 1983 and 1988.
Subject files is divided into two subseries: Organizations and individuals, which contains publications, correspondence, information, and promotional materials related to the Pan Am 103 bombing; and Government and trial, which contains trial transcripts, government resolutions, correspondence with the law firm Kreindler and Kreindler, as well as statements and petitions delivered during the trial.
Access Restrictions:
Some of Theo's personal effects and selected correspondence of Daniel and Susan Cohen are restricted at the donors' request. Restricted materials are noted in the inventory below. Please contact the archivist for further information regarding access to these materials.
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.
The Pan Am Flight 103 Archives contains additional materials and information related to the Theodora Cohen Family Papers. Related collections include:
Matthew Cox Papers
On Eagles' Wings Collection
Pan Am Flight 103 Audiovisual Collection
Pan Am Flight 103 Publications Collection
Pan Am 103 Individuals Collection
Malcolm Ingram Papers
Remembrance Quilt Collection
Names
Cohen Family.
Cohen, Daniel, 1936-2018.
Cohen, Susan.
Cohen, Theodora.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Associated Titles
Pan Am 103: the bombing, the betrayals, and a
bereaved family's search for justice.
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.
Audiovisual materials.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Manuscripts for publication.
Photographs.
Sound recordings.
VHS.
Preferred Citation
Theodora Cohen Family Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Gift of Daniel and Susan Cohen between 2004 and 2014.
Processing Information
Materials were placed in acid-free folders and archival boxes.
Materials are arranged alphabetically. Exceptions were made for manuscript drafts, which are arranged chronologically.
Audiovisual materials
Clippings
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Memorials
Personal effects
Photographs
Subject files
Audiovisual materials | |||||||||||
Box 27 | "Dialogue", Susan and Dan Cohen 19 January 1992 (Audio cassette; running time 60:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_003) | ||||||||||
Box 27 | Diane Rehm Show: Interview with Susan and Daniel Cohen 2 August 2000 (Audio cassette; running time 60:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_007) | ||||||||||
Previous location RG 103 | |||||||||||
Box 27 | "In Fond Remembrance": Theodora E. Cohen memorial service at First Presbyterian Church of Port Jervis, NY, by Rev. Richard Avery 29 December 1988 (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_001) | ||||||||||
Box 27 | "Lost along the Way", song lyrics by Jon Stone undated (Audio cassette; running time 60:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_002) | ||||||||||
Box 27 | Syracuse University Shaw Dormitory 4th Floor in Thornden Park singing (Theodora Cohen) 1987 - accompanied by a letter to Mr. & Mrs. Cohen (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_009) | ||||||||||
Box 27 | Theodora Cohen: National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) performance 9 April 1988 (Audio cassette; running time 60:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_006) | ||||||||||
Box 27 | [untitled] undated (Audio cassette; running time 90:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_005) | ||||||||||
Box 27 | WFAS-AM: Dan and Susan Cohen 11 April 1989 (Audio cassette; running time 90:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_008) | ||||||||||
Previous location RG 103 | |||||||||||
Box 27 | WNYC: Pan Am Flight 103 undated (Audio cassette; running time 90:00) (ID#: pa103_cohen_te_004) |
Clippings | |||||||||||
Box 6 | Broadcast transcripts 1989-2000 | ||||||||||
Box 2 | Clippings by date 1988-1989 (7 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 3 | Clippings by date 1990-1992 (8 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 4 | Clippings by date 1993-1996 (8 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 5 | Clippings by date 1997-2001 (7 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 6 | Clippings by date 2002-2005, undated (4 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 6 | Libya 1990-1995 | ||||||||||
Box 6 | Pan Am 103: the bombing, the betrayals, and a bereaved family's search for justice 2000-2001 | ||||||||||
Box 6 | Written by Daniel and Susan Cohen 1988-2001 |
Correspondence | |||||||||||
Others | |||||||||||
Box 13 | Air incident research 1993-1994 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | Bush, George H.W. 1989-1992 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | Clinton, Bill 1993-1998 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | Families of Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie victims 1988-2002 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 13 | Family and friends 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | International government officials 1994-2003 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | Kennedy, Edward 1992-1998 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | Reporters and media executives 1989-2000 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | United States Department of Justice 1990 1996-2003 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | United States Department of State 1989-2002 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | United States governmental officials 1989-1999 | ||||||||||
Box 13 | Various 1989-2003 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Susan and Daniel Cohen | |||||||||||
Box 9 | Ambassadors to foreign embassies and the European Union 1994-2000 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Beirut remembered 1994 | ||||||||||
Box 10 | Bush, George H. W. 1989-1991 | ||||||||||
Box 11 | Bush, George W. 2004 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) 1991-1992 | ||||||||||
Box 10 | Clinton, Bill 1992-1999 | ||||||||||
Box 10 | Clinton administration 1992-2000 | ||||||||||
Condolences | |||||||||||
Box 1 | Condolences by date December 1988 (4 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 7 | Condolences by date December 1988 (3 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 7 | Condolences by date January 1989 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 8 | Condolences by date January 1989 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 8 | Condolences by date February-August 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 8 | Condolences by date circa 1988-1989 | ||||||||||
Box 8 | Condolences by date 1990 | ||||||||||
Box 9 | Families of Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie victims 1989-1990 | ||||||||||
Box 8 | Floral tributes 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 8 | Government officials 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 8 | Hadassah condolences and tributes 1988-1990 | ||||||||||
Box 8 | Mass enrollment 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 9 | Mass enrollment 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 9 | Port Jervis community tributes 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 9 | Religious tributes 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 9 | Schools 1988-1990 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 9 | Syracuse University and community 1988-1990 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 9 | Trees for Israel tributes 1988-1989 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal's Office 1990-1991 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Department of the Army 1995 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Families of Pan Am flight 103/Lockerbie victims 1989-2002 | ||||||||||
Box 10 | Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 1991-1996 | ||||||||||
Box 10 | Frankovich, Allan 1993-1994 | ||||||||||
Box 26 | General 1994-2000 (4 folders) | ||||||||||
RESTRICTED: These materials are restricted at the donor's request and may not be viewed, cited, or reproduced. | |||||||||||
Box 10 | Holiday cards 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Incoming - various 1989-2004, undated (7 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 10 | International government officials 1990-2002 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Kennedy, Edward 1994-2002 | ||||||||||
Box 10 | Kreindler and Kreindler 1989-2004 | ||||||||||
Box 11 | Letters to the editor 1992-1998 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Lockerbie Air Disaster Appeal Fund 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Lord Advocate's chambers 2000 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Metropolitan Life Insurance Company 1992 | ||||||||||
Box 11 | Outgoing - various 1989-2003 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Port Jervis community 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 10 | Reporters and media executives 1989-2004, 2010 (3 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 11 | Reporters and media executives 1989-2004, 2010 | ||||||||||
Box 9 | Smith, Bruce 1989, 1995 | ||||||||||
Box 12 | Syracuse University community 1989-1993, 2003-2004 | ||||||||||
Box 11 | United States Department of Justice and the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) 1989-2003 | ||||||||||
Box 11 | United States Department of State 1989-2004 | ||||||||||
Box 11 | United States government officials 1989-2002 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 11 | United States Mission and Libyan Mission to the United Nations 1992-1999 | ||||||||||
Box 11 | Weiss, Fredda 1989 |
Manuscripts | |||||||||||
Others | |||||||||||
Box 16 | Alikhani, Hossein, book jacket for In the claw of the eagle 1995 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Bar-Illan, David, "Milton Viorst: the master of the double standard," With friends like these: the Jewish critics of Israel 1993 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Chomsky, Noam and Edward Herman, excerpt from Letters from Lexington: reflections on propaganda 1993 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Coleman, Lester, and Donald Goddard, afterword for Trail of the octopus from Beirut to Lockerbie: inside the DIA 1996 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Davis, Stephen, excerpt from Apartheid's rebels 1987 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Geffner, Robert, PhD, "The trauma of terrorism: sharing knowledge and shared care, an international handbook," Journal of aggression, maltreatment and trauma, Vol. 9, Numbers 1/2 2004 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Goddard, Donald, book jacket and title page for The insider, and book jacket for Trail of the octopus from Beirut to Lockerbie: inside the DIA 1992-1993 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Gowland-Debbas, Vera, "The relationship between the International Court of Justice and the Security Council in light of the Lockerbie case," The American journal of international law, Vol. 88, No. 4 1994 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Herman, Edward and Gerry O'Sullivan, excerpt from The terrorism industry 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Hudson, Paul S., "The crime victim and the criminal justice system: time for a change", Pepperdine law review, Vol. 11, No. 5 1984 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Kash, Douglas, Esq., "Libyan involvement and legal obligations in connection with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103," Studies in conflict and terrorism, Vol. 17 1994 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Katz, Samuel M., Israel versus Jibril: the thirty year war against a master terrorist 1993 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Katzman, Kenneth, "Terrorism: Middle Eastern groups and state sponsors, 1999," Congressional Research Service (CRS) report for Congress, The Library of Congress 1999 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Leppard, David, On the trail of terror 1991 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Middle East insider special report, "Pan Am 103: autopsy of a coverup," S.R. number 2 March 1990 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Salinger, Pierre, P.S., a memoir 1995 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Schuler, G. Henry M., "A policy for breaking the Libyan-American stalemate," Center for Strategic and International Studies April 15, 1994 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Smith, Ellen M., "Winter solstice and the white birds" December 22-23, 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Speer, Laurel, Cookies 1999 | ||||||||||
Susan and Daniel Cohen | |||||||||||
Box 16 | "The Europeans are having a stroke" 1996 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | "Lockerbie families speak," The nation 2001 - Draft response article to Cockburn piece | ||||||||||
Pan Am 103: the bombing, the betrayals, and a bereaved family's search for justice | |||||||||||
Box 14 | Justice denied 2000 - Initial draft, partial manuscript (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 14 | First draft 2000 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 14 | First draft 2000 - Loose pages and edits | ||||||||||
Box 14 | Copy edited draft 2000 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 14 | NAL promotional sampler and content February 25, 2000 | ||||||||||
Box 15 | Draft April 4, 2000 (3 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 15 | Draft April 4, 2000 - Loose pages and edits | ||||||||||
Box 15 | Copy edit draft April 6, 2000 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 15 | Folio Graphics, Inc. manuscript April 7, 2000 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Draft April 13, 2000 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Copy edit draft April 14, 2000 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 16 | "Pan Am 103 and Libya, coincidences and contradictions" 1990-1991 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Reflection on civil suits and default judgment 1997 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Reflection on Clinton administration response to Pan Am flight 103 circa 1993-2000 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Reflection on Hafez Assad circa 1990-2000 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | Reflection on sixth anniversary of Pan Am flight 103 1994 | ||||||||||
Box 16 | "Two cheers" 1995 - Unpublished reflection on civil suits |
Memorials | |||||||||||
Box 17 | "Dark elegy" 1994-1996 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Dedication of the memorial cairn at Arlington National Cemetery 1995 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Flower tribute at St. Alfred's Episcopal Church, Palm Harbor, Florida 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Lockerbie memorial service - first anniversary 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Memorial service for Theodora Cohen 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Memorial service at First Presbyterian Church of Port Jervis 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Memorial vigil at Lafayette Park, Washington, DC April 3, 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Memorial night at the Mac-Haydn Theatre, Chatham, New York June 3, 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | No Greater Love candlelight ceremonies at Holy Trinity Church, Washington, DC 1989-1993 | ||||||||||
Box 17 | Remembrance Scholar convocation packet and sketch 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | Syracuse University memorial book for Theodora Cohen 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | Syracuse University memorial services 1989-1990 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | Tenth anniversary memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery 1998 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | "The day of the longest night" memorial service at St. George's Episcopal Church, New York City 1989 |
Personal effects | |||||||||||
Susan and Daniel Cohen | |||||||||||
Box 18 | Estate of Theodora Cohen 1989-1991 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | Lockerbie trial ID cards and Lockerbie trial families project information 2000-2001 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | New American standard new testament, old testament prophecy edition 1975 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | Notes regarding Pan Am flight 103 1992-2000 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | Pan Am flight 103 pins 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | Susan Cohen's planner 2004 | ||||||||||
Theodora Cohen | |||||||||||
Box 18 | College documents, activities, and productions 1986-1988 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | High school productions 1984-1986 | ||||||||||
Box 6 | New York State legislative resolution honoring the memory of Theodora Cohen February 7, 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 19 | Personal effects returned from Lockerbie, Scotland 1988 | ||||||||||
RESTRICTED: These materials are restricted at the donor's request and may not be viewed, cited, or reproduced. | |||||||||||
Box 18 | Syracuse University certificate of student achievement 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | Syracuse University DIPA documents and information 1988 | ||||||||||
Box 18 | Voter registration card 1986 |
Photographs | |||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||
Box 20 | Peace time memorial plaque at Our Lady of Fatima assembly 1989 | ||||||||||
Theodora Cohen | |||||||||||
Box 20 | Theodora Cohen and Lauren Henry on Halloween circa 1986-1988 |
Subject files | |||||||||||
Government and trial documents | |||||||||||
Box 21 | General January 1989-December 1991 (8 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 22 | General January 1992-December 1992 (5 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 23 | General 1993-1995 (7 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 24 | General 1996-1999 (6 folders) | ||||||||||
Box 25 | General 1999-2003, undated (9 folders) | ||||||||||
FC 2-3 | Resolution no. 222 of 2009, Resolution of Orange County, New York legislature opposition to release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi 2009 | ||||||||||
Organizations and individuals | |||||||||||
Box 20 | Beirut connection 1991 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | Coleman, Lester 1995-1997 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | International Association of Ultrarunners 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | Justice for Pan Am 103 1995-1999 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | Libya Sanctions Review Committee 1997 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | Lockerbie Air Disaster Trust 1989-1991 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | Lockerbie Friendship Group 1989 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | National Center for Victims of Crime 2000 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | Simon Wiesenthal Center 1987-1990 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | Terrorism watch: Pan Am Flight 103 1997 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | UK Families Flight 103 1991-2004 | ||||||||||
Box 20 | United States Mission to the United Nations 1998 |