Collection inventory

printer friendly version

David Dornstein Family Papers

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

Summary

Creator: Dornstein, David, 1963-1988.
Title: David Dornstein Family Papers
Dates: 1963-2005
Size: 14 boxes, 1 oversize box, 1 wrapped package (10.5 linear feet)
Abstract: Journals, correspondence, and other materials related to David Dornstein, one of the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988.
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

Photograph of David Dornstein

David Dornstein (1963-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. He was returning home to New York from Israel where he had been working on a project for Alternatives in Jewish Education. David was a 1985 graduate of Brown University, where he wrote for the campus newspaper, the Brown Daily Herald, and studied writing. His copious notebooks, journals, and correspondence provide a glimpse into the mind of a young man remembered by friends as "incandescent, a Roman candle, a sparkler burning bright in everybody's night" as well as "a little crazy and a little rebellious."

Prior to his work and travel in Israel, Dornstein had set out to see America on a Greyhound bus. He carried with him a worn copy of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, which he left at a bus stop at the end of his trip in hopes that it would continue to travel without him. "He was the least boring person you'll ever meet,"

Return to top

Scope and Content Note

The David Dornstein Family Papers contain the personal journals, recordings, correspondence and writings of Pan Am Flight 103 victim David Dornstein. Also included are materials related to memorial services and awards created in his honor, and compilations of notes and interviews compiled and conducted by his brother, filmmaker Ken Dornstein, following David's death. The collection has been divided into the following series:

Audiovisual materials contains audio recordings of David Dornstein, as well as his short film "Reiss Ranter."

Clippings consists of news articles by and about David Dornstein and the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

Correspondence includes condolences received by the Dornstein family following David's death, as well as subseries for the personal correspondence of David Dornstein, Ken Dornstein (his brother) and Dr. Perry Dornstein (his father). David Dornstein's correspondence includes letters and postcards to family, friends, and mentors. Please note access to the personal correspondence of David Dornstein is available by permission of the donor only. The subseries for Ken Dornstein and Dr. Perry Dornstein contain material related to the death of David Dornstein, the return of his personal effects from Lockerbie, Scotland, and various awards and honors established in his memory.

Notebooks comprises the extensive personal journals and notes of David Dornstein from September 1981 through March 1988, as well as supporting documentation compiled by Ken Dornstein. Please note access to the personal notebooks of David Dornstein is available by permission of the donor only.

Subject files is divided into subseries for David Dornstein and Ken Dornstein. The latter includes high school and college course work of David Dornstein, as well as information on memorials and vital documents. The subseries for Ken Dornstein consists entirely of interviews conducted as part of an oral history project pertaining to his brother's life.

Writings includes pieces written by David Dornstein for the Brown Daily Herald, and a piece by Ken Dornstein reflecting on his brother's death published in the New Yorker.

Return to top

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Access to the personal correspondence and notebooks of David Dornstein shall be granted by permission of the donor, or the donor's designated representative. All access restrictions to these materials will expire 21 December 2038. Access to recordings 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.

Return to top

Related Material

The Pan Am Flight 103 Archives contains additional materials and information related to the David Dornstein Family Papers. Related collections include:

Ken Dornstein Papers

On Eagles' Wings Collection

Pan Am Flight 103 Publications Collection

Return to top

Selected Search Terms

Names

Dornstein family.
Dornstein, David, 1963-1988.
Dornstein, Ken.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Associated Titles

The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky.

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

Correspondence.
Notebooks.

Return to top

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

David Dornstein Family Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Ken Dornstein, 2016.

Processing Information

The David Dornstein Family Papers are fully processed. Materials were removed from three-ring binders and rehoused in acid-free folders. All materials have been placed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: 2016
Revision history: June 2018 - Inventory added (VSOM); Jan 2020 - Inventory and Scope and Content updated (VSOM)

Return to top

Arrangement

The David Dornstein Family Papers are arranged alphabetically and chronologically within series.

Return to top

Inventory

Audiovisual materials
Box 14 Caje 13 In Israel 31 July 1988-5 August 1988 - Caje 13 In Israel, (July 31 - August 5, 1988). Inserted note in the box reads: David 2:14; 4:20- 4:24. His name 44:15. (VHS) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00005)
Box 13 Cassette transfers, disc 1 27 March 2006 - Recordings of David Dornstein audio letters (DVD) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00002)
Box 13 Cassette transfers, disc 2 27 March 2006 - Recordings of David Dornstein audio letters (DVD) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00003)
Box 14 Dave’s Place by Phelim Dolan with David Dornstein 1986 - Dave’s Place by Phelim Dolan ‘86 with David Dornstein (VHS) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00006)
Box 14 Essay on genius (C1-1); Sunday brunch (C1-2) undated - Essay on Genius, (A - little faint, so turn up the volume) (1/8 inch audio cassette) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00007)
Box 14 Hendrix - The Cry of Love (1) Sater; The Doors (2) Sater 1984 - Hendrix - The Cry of Love (1) Sater ‘84; The Doors (2) Sater ‘84 (1/8 inch audio cassette) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00010)
Box 14 Norman Atkins’ Rolling Stone/ brunch (C5-1 and C5-2) undated (1/8 inch audio cassette) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00008)
Box 14 Santini I (from Norm Atkins) (C6-1 and C6-2); Memorial Day 1987 - Santini I, (from Norm Atkins), (C6-1 and C6-2); Memorial Day, 1987(?) (1/8 inch audio cassette) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00009)
Box 13 Reiss Ranter 7 November 1989 - unknown (VHS; running time 0:21:00) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00001)
Box 14 Reiss Ranter 4 December 2012 - Film by David Dornstein (; running time 0:35:00) (ID#: sua_dornstein_david_av_00004)
Clippings
Box 1 General December 1988-April 1989, undated
Box OS 1 Oversize clippings 1980-1988
Box 1 The Philadelphia Inquirer December 1988
Correspondence
Box 1 Condolences December 1988-February 1995, undated (3 folders)
David Dornstein
RESTRICTED: Please note, access to the personal correspondence of David Dornstein is granted by permission of the donor. Please contact the archivist for further information on accessing these materials.
Box 1 Atkins, Norman 1985-1999
Box 1 Blinkoff, Susannah 1985-1997
Box 1 Brown, Melissa 1984
Box 1 Dornstein, Dottie (Dorothy) (stepmother) 1982-1985
Dornstein, Ken (brother)
Box 1 Postcards June 1983
Box 1 Correspondence 1983-1988, undated (7 folders)
Dornstein, Perry (father)
Box 2 Correspondence 21 September 1981-29 November 1988, undated (3 folders)
Box 2 Dornstein, Susan (sister) 1987
Box 2 Douglas, Lawrence 1983-1984
Box 2 Gold, Greta (aunt) 1983-1985
Box 2 Osman, Jena February-July 1988
Box 2 Salzman, Jason 1984-1986
Box 2 Spack, Beth 1987-2001
Various
Box 2 General 1976-2000, undated (3 folders)
Box 2 Sent and Unsent 1982-1988
Box 3 Ken Dornstein binder: letters undated (2 folders)
Ken Dornstein
Box 3 The Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) 1980-1999
Box 3 Gilman, Susan 2002, undated
Dr. Perry Dornstein
Box 3 David Dornstein Memorial Creative Writing Contest for Young Adult Writers January 1989-September 1992
Box 3 Outgoing correspondence 1993, 1998, undated
Box 3 Personal effects of David Dornstein April 1989, November 1989
Notebooks
RESTRICTED: Please note, access to the personal notebooks of David Dornstein is granted by permission of the donor. Please contact the Archivist for further information on accessing these materials.
Box 3 Notebook #1, 22 September-1 October 1981
Box 3 Notebook #2, 4 February-7 March 1982
Box 3 Notebook #4, 29 July-9 September 1982
Box 3 Untitled notebook 31 October-21 November 1982
Box 4 Notebook #5a, 11 September-26 October, 1983
Box 4 Notebook #6, Fall 1982-1983
Box 4 Notebook #7, 8 February-20 March 1983
Box 4 Notebook #7b, Mar-April 1983
Box 4 Notebook #8, 14 April-25 May 1983
Box 4 Notebook #8a, undated
Box 5 Untitled notebook June-August 1983
Box 5 Notebook #10, August 1983
Box 5 Untitled notebook 23 September-23 October 1983
Box 5 Untitled notebook 1 November 1983, undated
Box 5 Notebook #16, 23 October-15 November 1983
Box 5 Notebooks #14a and #14b, 19 November 1983, 7 February 1984
Box 5 Notebook #15, 29 March-28 April 1984
Box 6 Untitled notebook 28 April-31 May 1984
Box 6 Notebook #17, 1 June-16 July 1984
Box 6 Notebook #18, 25 August-11 September 1984
Box 6 Untitled notebook 12 September-3 October 1984
Box 6 Notebook #20, 3 October-19 November 1984
Box 6 Notebook #21, 20 November-18 December 1984
Box 7 Notebook #22, 19 December 1984-21 January, 1985
Box 7 Notebook #23, 28 January-11 March 1985
Box 7 Notebook #24, 12 March-8 May 1985
Box 7 Notebook #3, 14-20 August 1985, undated
Box 7 Untitled notebook 1985
Box 7 Notebook #26, 21 November 1985-18 February 1986
Box 7 Notebook #27, 20 February-11 May 1986
Box 7 Notebook #28, 28 June-3 October 1986
Box 8 Notebook #29, 5 January-15 December, 1987
Box 8 Notebook #30, 16 June, 1987-20 March 1988
Box 8 Untitled notebook undated (2 folders)
Box 8 Ken Dornstein binder: Dave notebooks (abridged) undated (2 folders)
Box 8 Ken Dornstein folder: Dave notebooks, supporting information 1982-2002
Box 8 Ken Dornstein folder: Dave notebooks, supporting materials 1983-1998
Subject files
David Dornstein
Box 9 Brown University records 1981-1985
Box OS 1 Brown University yearbook 1985
Box OS 1 Cheltenham High School yearbook 1981
Package 1 Flag presented to Dornstein family circa 1988
Box 9 Memorials 1989, undated
Box 9 Official documents 1963-1988
Box 9 School records 1969-1985, undated
Ken Dornstein
The Dave Oral History Project
Box 9 Table of contents and loose materials 2001-2005
Box 9 A-B 1999-2002
Box 9 C-D 1999-2003
Box 9 E-G 1997-2003
Box 10 H-L 1997-2002
Box 10 M-R 1997-2004
Box 10 S-Z 1997-2002
Writings
David Dornstein
Box 10 Brown Daily Herald 1983-1985
Box OS 1 Brown Daily Herald oversize 1981-1985
Box 10 Cheltenham High School 1977-1981
Box 10 Creative writing 1981-1988, undated (5 folders)
Box 10 Fragments and doodles 1980, undated
Box 11 Journal fragments 1982-1985 (2 folders)
RESTRICTED: Please note, access to the personal notebooks of David Dornstein is granted by permission of the donor. Please contact the Archivist for further information on accessing these materials.
Box 11 Philtrum Press 1983-1987, undated
Box 11 School notes 1984, undated (2 folders)
Box 11 School papers, Brown University 1981-1985, undated (3 folders)
Box 11 School papers, pre-Brown University 1980-1981, undated
Box 12 Untitled 8 February 1988-2 July 1988
Box 12 Writing class comments 1983, undated (2 folders)
Box 12 Writings from computer files March 1987-August 1988
Box 12 Ken Dornstein binder: Dave writings undated
Ken Dornstein
Box 12 "Where My Brother Fell to Earth: A Visit to Lockerbie," The New Yorker November 1998-April 1999

Return to top