Table of Contents
Pan American World Airways Files
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Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection
An inventory of its collection at the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at Syracuse University
Summary |
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| Creator: | Pan American World Airways, Inc. |
| Title: | Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection |
| Dates: | December 1988-January 1990; Undated |
| Size: | 2 boxes, 1 linear foot |
| Abstract: | The Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection contains materials related to the company's interactions with families and representatives of the victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. These materials consist of correspondence and memoranda, as well as files from the office of former Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Pan American World Airways, Inc., Thomas G. Plaskett. |
| 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 |
Historical Note
Pan American World Airways, Inc.
Pan American World Airways, Inc. (Pan Am) was the largest international air carrier in the United States from its founding in 1927 until its collapse in 1991. Identified by its blue globe logo and the use of "Clipper" in the names of its aircraft, Pan Am was a cultural icon of the 20th century. In 1970, the company became the first to purchase Boeing 747s for its fleet, and named one of the first of these new planes "Clipper Maid of the Seas." This plane was flying route 103 on December 21, 1988 when it was destroyed by a terrorist bomb concealed in the baggage area. All 243 passengers, as well as the 16-member crew were killed. The crash of the plane's fuselage in Lockerbie, Scotland resulted in the deaths of an additional 11 people.
The bombing of Pan Am 103 provided the impetus for the Federal Aviation Administration's
investigation into Pan Am's security systems. In September 1989 the airline was fined a
total of $690,000 for 19 different FAA security violations. The tragedy of Flight 103,
in addition to myriad other issues pertaining to security and public perception,
exacerbated the decline in Pan Am's profits. On January 8, 1991, Pan Am declared
bankruptcy. The company was purchased by Delta Airlines, but remained unable to regain
profitability. Pan American World Airways, Inc. ceased operations in December of
1991.
Thomas G. Plaskett
Plaskett served as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Pan American World Airways, Inc. from 1988 through 1991.
Scope and Content Note
The Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection contains papers related to the company's interactions with family members, friends, and representatives of the victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. These materials consist of correspondence and memoranda, as well as files from the office of former Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Pan American World Airways, Inc., Thomas G. Plaskett. The collection is divided into two series, Pan American World Airways Files and Thomas G. Plaskett Files, each of which contains several subseries.
The Pan American World Airways Files series contains subseries for Clippings, Individuals, and Subject Files. The Individuals subseries primarily consists of Pan Am's internal documentation related to travel arrangements for the next of kin and representatives of victims of Flight 103 for attendance at memorial services and legal proceedings.
The Thomas G. Plaskett Files series comprises subseries for Clippings, Correspondence, and Victims. The Victims sub series contains selected correspondence and memoranda with the family members of victims of Flight 103.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions for this collection.
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 Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection. Related collections include:
Thomas Joseph Ammerman Family Papers
Clare Louise Bacciochi and Clayton Lee Flick Papers
Shannon Davis Family Collection
Anthony Lacey Hawkins Family Papers
Melina Kristina Hudson Family Papers
Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers
Frederick Sandford "Sandy" Phillips Papers
Thomas Britton Schultz Family Papers
Selected Search Terms
Names
Subjects
Types of material
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
The Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection comprises two accessions. Materials in the Pan American World Airways Files series were deposited by an anonymous donor in 2013, while items contained in the Thomas G. Plaskett Files series were donated by Toni Sikorcin in 2014.
Processing Information
The Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection is fully processed.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: February 2015
Revision history:
Arrangement
Files are arranged alphabetically within each subseries, while items are arranged chronologically within their respective folders.