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Richard Paul Monetti Family Papers

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


Finding aid created by: Anna E. Smallwood and Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: March 2015

Biography

Photograph of Richard Paul Monetti

Richard Paul Monetti (1968-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. He was a junior at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications considering a career in journalism, although he also had an interest in history and political science. A native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Rick was survived by his parents, Robert and Eileen, and his sister, Kara.

In a passage from his journal recovered in Lockerbie titled, "Rick's Philosophy of Life, or, What I've Learned in 20 Years," Rick wrote: "a good attitude is worth five points; don't sit back, make the most of everything. Do all you can while you can. Life is a one-time deal."

After Rick's death, Bob and Eileen joined with families of other Pan Am Flight 103 victims in founding the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. (VPAF 103, Inc.), and became heavily involved ensuring the airline industry maintains and improves safety measures, one of the organization's primary goals. All three members of the Monetti family have filled various roles in the organization throughout its history, including terms as president (Bob and Kara) and service on the advisory board and special committees (Bob and Eileen).

The bulk of the Richard Paul Monetti Family Papers pertains to the Monetti family's work with aviation security and VPAF 103, Inc. Bob Monetti represented the organization on the Department of Transportation Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC), was involved with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), served on the FAA Baseline Working Group, and worked with the staff of the McLaughlin Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism.

Scope and Content Note

The Richard Paul Monetti Family Papers contain materials related to Rick Monetti, as well as materials related to civil aviation and aviation security collected by his family. The collection has been divided into the following series:

Clippings, general contains materials the Monetti family collected from newspapers and magazines on various topics including the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Libya, other bombings and attacks on civil aviation, and aviation security.

Committee work includes agendas, meeting minutes, reports, interviews, and working documents from the committees and subcommittees with which Bob Monetti was involved.

Conferences consists of papers collected from conferences and symposiums attended by the Monetti family.

Court cases contains all the legal court transcripts and documents included in the collection.

Memorabilia consists of a t-shirt, pin and certificates related to the Monetti family's work with aviation security.

Memorials and remembrances, general contains the pamphlets, programs, and other printed material from services, organizations, and places of remembrance dedicated to the victims of Pan Am Flight 103.

Monetti family correspondence includes both the incoming and outgoing correspondence of the Monetti family. Materials are separated by corporation or office when significant, and are otherwise filed in chronological order under general correspondence.

Photographs includes prints and negatives taken during various organizational dinners, meetings, and memorials.

Printed materials includes newsletters, publications, and reports collected on aviation and airport security by the Monetti family.

Richard Monetti series contains all the materials in this collection belonging to, or directly related to Rick Monetti. His belongings are divided into nine subseries: Clippings, Comic books, Correspondence, Journals, Memorabilia, Memorials and remembrance, Photographs, School materials, and Vital records. Clippings include newspaper articles about Rick. Comic books contains Rick's collection from his teenage years, and his handwritten collection list. Correspondence includes letters and cards, both incoming and outgoing. Included is Rick's personal correspondence, as well as condolences received by the Monetti family following his death. Rick kept journals while a student and copies of some of these, including the journal from his fall 1988 semester in London, are contained in the Journals subseries. Memorabilia contains a program from a KISS event that Rick attended. The Memorials and remembrance subseries includes materials and recordings from Rick's funeral and various memorials, including memorial scholarships established in his honor. Photographs are of Rick Monetti, as well as those he took while studying abroad in the fall of 1988. Rick Monetti's school materials are further divided by high school and college. Included are folders and notebooks from Rick's school years, as well as other materials relating to his school work. Vital records constitutes the final subseries and includes personal item return documents, Rick's passport, and other sensitive records. Please note some materials in the Comic books, Journals, and School materials subseries contain outdated terminology and potentially harmful language and imagery. The language and imagery contained in these materials was prevalent at the time of their creation, although no less potentially harmful than today. These materials are preserved and presented for their historic and research value. Please note some materials within the Vital records subseries contain graphic subject matter.

Subject and research files contains reports and research, mostly dealing with civil aviation and aviation security, collected by Robert Monetti. Please note that some of this material is restricted.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Some materials in the Richard Paul Monetti 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.

Please note that portions of 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.

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.

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

Pan Am Flight 103 Audiovisual Collection

Families of Pan Am 103/Lockerbie Collection

Tom Foster Papers

On Eagles' Wings Collection

Memorial Cairn at Arlington National Cemetery Records

Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. Collection

Selected Search Terms

Names

Monetti family.
Monetti, Richard Paul.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Aeronautics--Security measures.
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

Awards.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Diaries.
Floppy disks.
Memorabilia.
News bulletins.
Photographs.
Proclamations.
Programs (documents)
VHS.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Richard Paul Monetti Family Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Bob and Eileen Monetti between 2010 and 2022.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged alphabetically by series.

Location of Originals

Rick's originals journals have been scanned on loan and retained by the donor.

Table of Contents

Clippings, general

Committee work

Conferences

Court cases

Memorabilia

Memorials and remembrance, general

Monetti family correspondence

Photographs

Printed material

Richard Monetti

Subject and research files

Inventory