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Shannon Davis Family Papers

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


Finding aid created by: Cara A. Howe
Date: 2012

Biography

Shannon Davis

Shannon Davis (1969-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. She was a junior in Syracuse University's College for Human Development. Shannon's dream was to operate a day-care center for young children after she graduated. In London, Shannon studied child development and worked at toy libraries, where children could go and play. From Shelton, Connecticut, Shannon was survived by her mother, Jane, as well as a brother, Jim, and a sister, Whitney, also SU graduates. She was predeceased by her father Winston, who died earlier in 1988 in an accident in Saudi Arabia.

From Shannon's mother we know that the words on Shannon's memorial card were found among her notes, which she wrote after the death of her father, and the daffodils depicted there were drawn in the last letter Shannon sent to her mother.


A butterfly lights between us
like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment
its glory and beauty
belong to our world...

But then it flies on again
and though we wish
it could have stayed
we feel so lucky
to have seen it.

Scope and Content Note

The Shannon Davis Family Papers contains series for: Audiovisual materials, Clippings, Correspondence, Memorabilia, Photographs, Printed material, Scrapbooks and Subject files. The series for Correspondence, Photographs and Subject files contain subseries for Jane Davis, Shannon's mother, and for Phil Haigh, the Scottish rescuer who located Shannon and her belongings. Jane's materials will help the researcher to better understand the aftermath of the bombing. This includes the emotional toll, evident in the condolence letters and many of Jane's writings, and the legislative and legal impacts of Pan Am 103. The materials of Phil Haigh will provide insight into the rescue efforts undertaken by Scottish emergency personnel as well as the effect such a disaster has on those involved in the response effort. Shannon's materials will allow the researcher a chance to know Shannon as she was. Her scrapbook, especially, provides a chance to experience Syracuse University as Shannon did. Along with her photographs from trips to Munich and Florence, some of her written work, and other materials found in this collection.

Alternative Formats

Selected materials from this collection have been digitized. Please contact the archivist for further information on accessing the materials.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that some materials are restricted at donor's request.

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 Shannon Davis Family Papers. Related collections include:

On Eagle's Wings Collection

Pan Am Flight 103 Audiovisual Collection

Francis J. Duggan Collection

Pan Am 103 Individuals Collection

London 1988 Image Collection

Remembrance Quilt Collection

Selected Search Terms

Names

Davis, Jane.
Davis, Shannon.
Haigh, Phil.
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

Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Memorabilia.
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Shannon Davis Family Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Jane Davis, 2002.

Processing Information

The Shannon Davis Family Papers has been processed.

Arrangement

The Shannon Davis Family Papers is arranged alphabetically within each series. Series are arranged alphabetically.

Table of Contents

Audiovisual materials

Clippings

Correspondence

Memorabilia

Photographs

Printed materials

Scrapbooks

Subject files

Inventory