Collection inventory

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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


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



Historical Note

Pan American World Airways, Inc.

Pan Am Logo

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

Kenneth J. Bissett 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

Jocelyn K. Reina Papers

Thomas Britton Schultz Family Papers

Elia G. Stratis Family Papers

Nicolas Andreas Vrenios Papers


Selected Search Terms

Names

Plaskett, Thomas G.
Pan American World Airways, Inc.
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

Correspondence.

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.


Arrangement

Files are arranged alphabetically within each subseries, while items are arranged chronologically within their respective folders.


Table of Contents

Pan American World Airways Files

Thomas G. Plaskett Files


Inventory