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Mark Lawrence Tobin Family Papers

An inventory of the collection 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 Mark Lawrence Tobin

Mark Lawrence Tobin (1967-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. Mark was the sixth of Helen and Joe Tobin's seven children. His childhood dream was to become a television sports announcer. Mark worked towards this goal while a student at Fordham University, where he hosted the evening sports recap on the university's radio station. He spent the fall semester of 1988 in London, England with the Syracuse University communications program.

Mark loved sports, as both a spectator and a participant. From his early teens he enjoyed golf, swimming, and tennis. In his college years he added hockey, surfing, and skiing to that list. His parents commented that Mark was "eternally optimistic about the successful outcome of all his undertakings. He was valued as a best friend by more people than we ever knew about."

Scope and Content Note

The Mark Lawrence Tobin Family Papers contain materials related to Mark Tobin, one of the 35 students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland while studying abroad through Syracuse University's Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA). The collection has been divided into the following series:

Artwork, containing a maquette of the Dark Elegy statue of Helen Tobin created by Suse Lowenstein.

Clippings from various newspapers and periodicals.

Correspondence, which has been further divided into subseries for condolences, Mark Tobin's personal correspondence, and the correspondence of the Tobin family. Please note some materials in the Mark Tobin subseries contain outdated terminology and potentially harmful language. The language contained in these materials was prevalent at the time of their creation, although no less potentially harmful than today. The materials are preserved and presented for their historic and research value.

Mass cards consisting of several hundred such items received by the Tobin family in the months and years following Mark's death.

Memorabilia, including Mark's trophies for athletics and theatre, and materials related to his family's involvement with the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc.

Memorial donations, which contains materials related to donations made in Mark's memory to various funds and organizations.

Photographs, containing Tobin family photo albums, and photographs from Mark's semester in London.

Subject files, including some of Mark's personal belongings, as well as papers pertaining to his estate, and post mortem examination. Please note some materials in this series contain graphic subject matter.

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.

Due to its fragility, access to the original statue of Helen Tobin is restricted. Photographs of the piece are available.

Use Restrictions:

Post-mortem images of the deceased may not be reproduced or photographed.

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 Mark Lawrence Tobin Family Papers. Related collections include:

Alexander Lowenstein Family Papers

On Eagles' Wings Collection

Pan American World Airways, Inc. Collection

Dark Elegy Collection

Pan Am 103 Individuals Collection

Remembrance Quilt Collection

Selected Search Terms

Names

Lowenstein, Suse.
Tobin family.
Tobin, Helen.
Tobin, Mark Lawrence.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Associated Titles

Dark Elegy.

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.
Photograph albums.
Photographs.
Sculpture (visual works)
Sound recordings.
U-matic (TM)
VHS.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Mark Lawrence Tobin Family Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Joseph and Helen Tobin in 2007 and Pat Tobin Adelman in 2014.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid free folders and boxes. A custom housing was created for the maquette.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged in alphabetical order within each series and subseries.

Table of Contents

Artwork

Clippings

Correspondence

Mass cards

Memorabilia

Memorial donations

Photographs

Subject files

Inventory