Collection inventory

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Karen Lee Hunt Family Collection

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

Summary

Creator: Hunt family.
Title: Karen Lee Hunt Family Collection
Dates: 1968-2009
Size: 1 linear foot
Abstract: Materials relating to Karen Hunt, one of the 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

Karen Lee Hunt

Karen Lee Hunt (1968-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. Karen was a Syracuse University junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She majored in English with a minor in journalism and hoped to be a magazine writer. Karen wrote poetry and kept a journal that was returned to her family after the crash. During her stay in London, Karen took great care to buy gifts for her family and friends. One gift of a teapot, bought for her mother Peggy, survived the crash. Karen was a sister of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women and is remembered by family and friends as "a warm and caring person who embodied goodness" and had a "generous spirit." She was survived by her parents, Bob and Peggy, and a younger sister, Robyn.

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Scope and Content Note

The Karen Lee Hunt Family Collection contains the series Audiovisual materials, Condolences, Correspondence, Photographs, and Subject files. The bulk of this collection consists of reproductions, unless otherwise noted.

Audiovisual materials contains copies of "Song For Karen," a tribute song for Karen Lee Hunt and the other victims of Pan Am Flight 103 written by Richard Newbegin in 1991. Also included are home movies from the Hunt family, footage of Karen at Syracuse University, news coverage of the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster from local broadcasts in the Rochester, New York region, and memorial videos dedicated to Karen.

Condolences includes many of the letters and cards that the Hunt family received after Karen’s death. They range from family friends and relatives, to Karen’s friends from elementary, high school, and university.

Correspondence contains letters from David Johnston, Richard Newbegin, and Ella Ramsden. Ella Ramsden lived in Park Place in Lockerbie during the Lockerbie disaster. She was in her home when Pan Am Flight 103 crashed and her roof was sheared off by the plane. A few years after the disaster, Richard Newbegin’s mother moved to Lockerbie and became friends with Ella. When he came to visit his mother they went to Dryfesdale Cemetery where he saw Karen’s plaque. It was then that Newbegin decided to write "Song For Karen." He wanted to share the song with Karen’s family, but had no way to contact them. His mother gave a copy to Ella. Around this time David Johnston, a Scottish police officer assigned to the Lockerbie disaster case came to see Ella to say goodbye as he was going home to Glasgow. David Johnston had been assigned to the Hunt family as their official contact. When he saw the tape and Ella Ramsden told him the story behind it he decided to take it back to the police station. It was soon decided that the family should know about the song and correspondence between Richard Newbegin and the Hunt family began.

Photographs includes portraits of Karen, prom photos, and a photo of a plaque located in Franklin Lake, New Jersey. There are also photos of Richard Newbegin and his family.

Subject Files includes two sketches of Karen drawn by Margaret Paxton, of Alnwick England, and digital versions of the newspaper clipping album created by the Hunt family concerning the Pam Am Flight 103 disaster and Karen. The clippings are dated between 1988 and 2009.

A significant portion of this collection consists of reproductions of original material retained by the Hunt family.

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Alternative Formats

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

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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.

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Related Material

The Pan Am Flight 103 Archives contains additional materials and information related to the Karen Lee Hunt Family Collection. Related collections include:

On Eagle's Wings Collection

Pan Am Flight 103 Audiovisual Collection

Matthew Cox Papers

London 1988 Image Collection

Pan Am 103 Individuals Collection

Pan Am 103 Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women Collection

Remembrance Quilt Collection

Memorial websites have been created in Karen's honor. Her parents recommend Remembering Karen Lee Hunt and Memorial for Karen Lee Hunt as resources. Neither site is maintained by the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives or Syracuse University.

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Selected Search Terms

Names

Hunt family.
Hunt, Karen Lee,
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.
Compact discs.
Correspondence.
DVDs.
Photographs.
Reprodutions (derivative objects)
VHS.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Karen Lee Hunt Family Collection,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Robert and Peggy Hunt in 2009 and 2013. Gift of Lauren Henry in 2014.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and boxes. Photographs were placed in protective sleeves.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Cara A. Howe and Rachael Signy
Date: 2013
Revision history: Jun 2016 - Stylistic changes (VSOM); Feb 2018 - Stylistic changes (VSOM); July 2024 - Media processed, inventory updated (VSOM)

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Arrangement

The collecton is arranged alphabetically within each series.

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Location of Originals

Unless otherwise noted in the inventory, original materials were retained by the donors.

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Inventory

Audiovisual material
Box 2 20th Anniversary of Pan Am 103 by Joshua Hunt-Barry (nephew of Karen Lee Hunt) 2008 (DVD; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_012)
Box 2 Karen Lee Hunt by Robyn Hunt Barry (sister) [copy 1] undated (DVD) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_013)
Box 2 Karen Lee Hunt by Robyn Hunt Barry (sister) [copy 2] undated (DVD; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_014)
Box 2 Local news broadcasts from several local channels (first several days after tragedy) 27 December 1988 (VHS; running time 76:33) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_005)
Tape contains: News Team Channel 10; Channel 13 (including coverage from SU by WHEC-TV 10, Rochester); Karen's memorial service coverage; Wrong body return; Karen Lee Hunt body mix-up; Robyn (sister) talking about a bell we hand in our living room and "When a bell rings an Angel gets his/her wings (... this actually happened later in the evening while sitting around the Christmas Tree).
Box 2 News clips: "On the Road to Find Out", Karen Lee Hunt personification January 1989 (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_003)
Box 2 "On the Road to find Out" by Cat Stevens over Karen on Day 7/Karen at Jamesville Reservoir May 1988 (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_002)
Box 2 Robyn's freshman dance undated (DVD; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_015)
Box 2 Robyn [Hunt] filming around Christmas, "I Love You Karen" circa December 1988 (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_001)
Video contains: Robyn cheerleading practice (before tragedy); Terry Lloyd (brother-in-law) to house; Robyn tour of house on Maplewood Lane; Christmas Bell story (told by Robin); Picture of Karen; (there is long gap at this point); Robyn filming phone conversations regarding the body mix-up: Father Booth has come to visit and discuss memorial arrangements; Pep is on phone with FBI, forensic doctor, and TV stations; Peggy is talking with Father Booth; Terry, Tyler, mother and Bob shown in this footage.
Box 2 Song for Karen: In Tribute to Karen Lee Hunt and the other 269 victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988 by Richard Newbegin [copy 1] 1991 (CD; running time 30:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_008)
Contains: 1. Song for Karen; 2. Only Americans; 3. Song for Karen (first recording, made in England); Song for Karen, instrumental.
Box 2 Song for Karen: In Tribute to Karen Lee Hunt and the other 269 victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988 by Richard Newbegin [copy 2] 1991 (CD; running time 30:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_009)
Contains: 1. Song for Karen; 2. Only Americans; 3. Song for Karen (first recording, made in England); Song for Karen, instrumental.
Box 2 Song for Karen: In Tribute to Karen Lee Hunt and the other 269 victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988 by Richard Newbegin [copy 1] 1991 (Audio cassette; running time 30:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_010)
Contains: 1. Song for Karen; 2. Only Americans; 3. Song for Karen (first recording, made in England); Song for Karen, instrumental.
Box 2 Song for Karen: In Tribute to Karen Lee Hunt and the other 269 victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988 by Richard Newbegin [copy 2] 1991 (Audio cassette; running time 30:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_011)
Contains: 1. Song for Karen; 2. Only Americans; 3. Song for Karen (first recording, made in England); Song for Karen, instrumental.
Box 2 WHEC-TV 10, Rochester: original [early] broadcasts about Pan Am 103 crash regarding Karen Lee Hunt 22 December 1988 (VHS; running time 30:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_006)
Box 12 WOKR-13, Rochester: Karen Lee Hunt coverage December 1988 (VHS; running time 30:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_007)
Box 2 WROC-TV 8, Rochester: Karen Lee Hunt memorial service 27 December 1988 (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_004)
Condolences
Box 1 Acquaintances December 1988 - May 1989
Box 1 Boyfriends December 1988
Box 1 Elementary school friends December 1988-January 1989
Box 1 Employer January 1989
Box 1 High school friends December 1988-January 1990
Box 1 In memory of Karen Lee Hunt undated
Box 1 Mothers of Karen's friends December 1988
Box 1 non-acquaintances December 1988-March 1989
Box 1 Relatives January 1989-January 1991
Box 1 Rose, Lisa December 1989-September 1991
Box 1 Syracuse University friends December 1988-September 1991
Box 1 Teachers December 1988-January 1989
Correspondence
Box 1 Campbell, Peggy August 1992
Box 1 Henry, Lauren circa 1986-1988
 Letter to Lauren Henry from Karen Hunt
 Letter to Lauren Henry from Karen Hunt
Box 1 Johnston, David August 1992
Box 1 Newbegin, Richard about 'Song For Karen" February 1992-March 1992
Box 1 Newbegin, Richard March 1992-October 2009, undated (9 folders)
Box 1 Ramsden, Ella December 1992
Box 1 Tesauro, Joni December 1988 - February 1989
Photographs
Box 1 Dance recital 1978 (This folder contains original prints.)
Box 1 Johnston, David April 1992
Box 1 Karen Hunt and Lauren Henry [roommate] circa 1986
 Karen Hunt and Lauren Henry (roommate) Day Hall, Floor 7
Box 1 London 1988
 Karen Hunt with fellow student
 Karen Hunt with fellow students at Stonehenge
 Students at Stonehenge
 Three London abroad students outside a London subway station
 Karen Hunt and fellow London abroad students standing between columns
 Karen Hunt walking to a small airport, Boulogne sur Mer
 Karen Hunt and fellow London abroad students with a Christmas cake
 Karen Hunt and fellow London abroad students outside near trees
 Karen Hunt posing playfully with two fellow London abroad students
 Karen Hunt and friend posing with two British policemen in Notting Hill Gate
 Karen Hunt and fellow London abroad students gathered behind a table full of food
 Three London abroad students sitting in a church
Box 1 Newbegin, Richard undated (This folder contains original prints.)
 Portrait of Richard Newbegin
Box 1 Memorial plaque [Franklin Lakes, New Jersey] undated (This folder contains original prints.)
 Memorial plaque for Karen Hunt
Box 1 Portraits of Karen Hunt 1968-1987 (This folder contains original prints.)
 Portrait of Karen Hunt
 Portrait of Karen Hunt
 Portrait of Karen Hunt
 Portrait of Karen Hunt for high school graduation
 Portrait of Karen Hunt for Pi Beta Phi
Box 1 Prom 1985-1986 (This folder contains original prints.)
 Prom portrait of Karen Hunt
 Prom portrait of Karen Hunt
Subject files
Box 2 Karen Lee Hunt: Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103, December 21, 1988 Newspaper Album, book 1 [copy 1] circa 1988-1990 - DOC 103HUN0001.pdf (DVD; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_016)
Box 2 Karen Lee Hunt: Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103, December 21, 1988 Newspaper Album, book 1 [copy 2] circa 1988-1990 - DOC 103HUN0001.pdf (CD; running time 80:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_017)
Box 2 Karen Lee Hunt: Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103, December 21, 1988 Newspaper Album, book 2 [copy 1] circa 1990-2009 - DOC 103HUN0002.pdf (DVD; running time 120:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_018)
Box 2 Karen Lee Hunt: Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103, December 21, 1988 Newspaper Album, book 2 [copy 2] circa 1990-2009 - DOC 103HUN0002.pdf (CD; running time 80:00) (ID#: pa103_hunt_kl_019)
Box 1 Sketches by Margaret Paxton undated

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