Collection inventory

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Beth Ann Johnson Family Papers

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


Finding aid created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: March 2015

Biography

Photograph of Beth Ann Johnson

Beth Ann Johnson (1967-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. She was a senior at Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pennsylvania majoring in psychology with related studies in music and drama. Beth had been studying at Regent's College in London, England. She was survived by her parents, Glenn and Carole Johnson; and two brothers, Glenn P. III and Gene Alan.


Beth had been elected to Who's Who Among College Students at Seton Hill, and was the president of Seton Hill's psychology club. She was also a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society and Psi-Chi National Honors Society. In addition to her academic achievements, Beth was a talented musician and actress. She belonged to the chamber singers, the concert and handbell choirs, the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds, was an organist at Assumption Hall, and a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 339. She also regularly participated in theatrical productions at Seton Hill and at the Apple Hill Playhouse. While studying in London, Beth served as a Resident Advisor for one of the dormitories at Regent's College. She also took the opportunity during her semester abroad to travel throughout Europe, visiting Ireland, the Swiss Alps, and Germany.


In the years following the tragedy, Beth's parents, Glenn and Carole, became extensively involved with Pan Am 103 victims' groups, and in lobbying for and drafting improvements to aviation security.

Scope and Content Note

The Beth Ann Johnson Family Papers contain clippings, journals, scrapbooks, and other materials related to Beth Ann Johnson, a victim of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. Also included are materials related to her family's work for improvements to aviation security, and files pertaining to the various legal actions surrounding the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The collection has been divided into series as follows:

The Beth Ann Johnson journals series contains Beth's appointment diary, daily journals, and travel journals from her semester abroad. These journals were scanned while on loan from the Johnson family. A large portion of the collection consists of clippings and clippings scrapbooks collected by Glenn and Carole Johnson, Beth's parents, in the days, months, and years following the bombing.

Items in the Clippings series date from December 22, 1988, the day after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, through October 2011.

Correspondence contains primarily incoming correspondence from members of Pan Am Flight 103 victims' groups, and legal advisors and representatives of the Pan Am Flight 103 families. Incoming correspondence from the law firm of Kreindler and Kreindler, the firm that represented families in several legal actions related to the tragedy, comprises the bulk of this series.

The Subject files series contains files pertaining to various organizations and projects related to Pan Am Flight 103 and civil aviation security with which the Johnson family has been involved; as well as materials pertaining to subjects or incidents relevant to Pan Am 103, other aviation disasters, or the prosecution of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifah Fhimah. The Aviation security subsection encompasses reports, conference materials, and legislation pertaining to aviation security, generally, as well as to Glenn Johnson's involvement with the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC), specifically.

Finally, the Writings series contains one item, a poem titled "Beth, see also Library Co-Worker Friend" written in memorial of Beth.

Alternative Formats

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

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Some materials in the Beth Ann Johnson Family Papers are restricted. Folders containing restricted material 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.

Related Material

TruthQuest newsletters and other materials related to the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. have been separated, and placed in the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. Collection. Materials related to Families of Pan Am 103/Lockerbie have been separated, and placed in the Families of Pan Am 103/Lockerbie Collection.

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

Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding Collection

Thomas Joseph Ammerman Family Papers

Francis J. Duggan Collection

On Eagles' Wings Collection

Pan Am Flight 103 Publications Collection

Pan Am 103 Individuals Collection

Pan Am 103 Memorials Collection

Fredda Weiss Collection

Selected Search Terms

Names

Johnson family.
Johnson, Beth Ann.
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 files.
Diaries.
Pens (drawing and writing implements)
Scrapbooks.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Beth Ann Johnson Family Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Glenn and Carole Johnson between 2009, 2013, and 2024. Items in the Beth Ann Johnson Journals series were scanned while on loan from the Johnson family in 2013.

Processing Information

Materials were rehoused into acid free folders and boxes.

Arrangement

The Beth Ann Johnson Family Papers are arranged chronologically or alphabetically within respective series.

Location of Originals

Items in the Beth Ann Johnson journals series were scanned while on loan from the Johnson family in 2013. Originals remain with donor.

Table of Contents

Beth Ann Johnson journals

Clippings

Correspondence

Subject files

Writings

Inventory