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Ken Dornstein Papers

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

Summary

Creator: Dornstein, Ken
Title: Ken Dornstein Papers
Dates: 1969-2015
Size: 25 boxes, 13 linear feet
Abstract: Research files and other materials pertaining to Ken Dornstein's 2015 documentary My Brother's Bomber, produced for the WGBH-TV public affairs television program Frontline.
Language: English, French, German
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

Biography

Ken Dornstein is an author and investigative journalist. His brother, David Dornstein (1963-1988) was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on 21 December 1988. Ken is the author of The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky: A True Story, a 2006 memoir about the brothers' relationship and Ken's attempts to understand David's life and death, and the bombing of Pan Am 103. Ken is also the creator of the Frontline documentary My Brother's Bomber, which first aired in the United States in 2015. This three-part piece of investigative journalism follows Ken's search for evidence and answers about the bombing.

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Scope and Content Note

The Ken Dornstein Papers primarily consist of the research files of Ken Dornstein, compiled during the research and production of My Brother's Bomber. Also included are audiovisual footage of the documentary and source materials about Pan Am 103, Muammar Gaddafi, Libya, and terrorism. The Ken Dornstein Papers has been divided into the following series:

Audiovisual materials consists of two subseries, Ken Dornstein and Research. The first of these subseries contains both audio and film recordings created by or featuring Ken Dornstein. These materials include audio recordings of Dornstein's trip to Lockerbie, Scotland in 1996 as well as audio recordings of the My Brother's Bomber film crew on location. Commercial and independent films and archival news footage comprise the bulk of the Research subseries

Awards contains one item: the Keeping the Spirit Alive award presented to Ken Dornstein by the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. on 21 December 2015.

Posters includes reward posters for Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifah Fhimah, and a U.S. Department of State poster.

Research files comprise the majority of the collection. These files are arranged by topic, and remain in their original order. Topics include but are not limited to individual suspects and organizations; other aviation disasters; the history of Lockerbie, Scotland; trial information and notes for the trial at Kamp van Zeist, and pain and suffering hearings; government documents; and information about the 1986 La Belle Disco bombing. Also included are Dornstein's journal from is 1996 trip to Lockerbie, Scotland and a map based on Dornstein's research of locations where the victims of Pan Am 103 fell to earth.

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Alternative Formats

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

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Due to its fragility, access to the map of where Pan Am 103 victims fell is restricted.

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.

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Related Material

Books have been transferred to Rare Books for cataloging. Please refer to the Classic Catalog to locate these items.

The Pan Am Flight 103 Archives contains additional materials and information related to the Ken Dornstein Papers. Related collections include:

David Dornstein Family Papers

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Selected Search Terms

Names

Dornstein, Ken.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Associated Titles

My brother's bomber.
The boy who fell out of the sky : a true story.

Subjects

Libya -- Foreign relations--United States.
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.
Libya.
Lockerbie (Scotland)

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Ken Dornstein Papers,
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Ken Dornstein in 2016.

Processing Information

The majority of materials in the Research Files series have been removed from three-ring binders and placed in numbered, acid-free folders.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Vanessa L. St.Oegger-Menn
Date: Nov 2016
Revision history: July 2017 - Inventory added; stylistic changes (VSOM); February 2021 - Inventory updated. Books removed for cataloging (VSOM)

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Arrangement

The Ken Dornstein Papers are arranged alphabetically within each series or subseries.

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Inventory

Audiovisual materials
Ken Dornstein
Box 1 ATEF/ANO audio dailies wav files with T.code 2 November 2011 - audio recordings of interviews (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00030)
Box 1 Ken - Beth Shalom news, channel 10 news 1992, Lockerbie memorial undated - various news clips recorded by Dornstein family, footage of the dedication of the Remembrance Room at Tundergarth Church VHS (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00006)
Box 1 Libya Ken version #4 5 October 2006 - running time 00:09:52 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00024)
Box 1 Lockerbie sound I 12 September 2014-13 September 2014 - audio recordings of Ken Dornstein and film crew DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00023)
Box 1 Lockerbie sound II 12 September 2014-13 September 2014 - audio recordings of Ken Dornstein and film crew DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00022)
Box 1 Lockerbie November 1996: BBC December 1989 November 1996 - audio recording of Ken Dornstein's 1996 trip to and research in Lockerbie 1/8 inch audio cassette (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00036)
Box 1 Lockerbie: November 1996 (15 November, 3pm- ) November 1996 - audio recording of Ken Dornstein's 1996 trip to Lockerbie 1/8 inch audio cassette (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00038)
Box 1 Lockerbie November 1996: T.V. reports December 1988; radio report from 122-23 December, 1988 November 1996 - audio recording of Ken Dornstein's 1996 trip to and research in Lockerbie 1/8 inch audio cassette (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00037)
Box 1 Lockerbie: November 1996 walk around, Judy Gould interview 30 June 1990, Radio 21 December 1988, other December 1988; To Rosebank, nighttime walk, video store November 1996 - audio recording of Ken Dornstein's 1996 trip to Lockerbie 1/8 inch audio cassette (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00039)
Box 1 SCR Lockerbie project 8 June 2012 - compilation news clips, Megrahi death bed material, running time 00:16:30 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00011)
Box 1 SCR Lockerbie project 920 20 September 2012 - Qaddafi press conference (1 February 1986), running time 00:04:00 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00010)
Research
Box 1 8 May 1981 NBC to 25 January 1986 NBC archival news footage 1981-1986 - NBC news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00056)
Box 1 8 July 1981 CBS to 19 August 2002 NBC archival news footage 1981-2002 - CBS and NBC news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00054)
Box 1 19 August 1981 ABC Nightline 1981 - ABC Nightline footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00057)
Box 1 30 December 1985 ABC to 23 December, 1988 CBS archival news footage 1985-1988 - ABC and CBS news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00047)
Box 1 3 April 1986 ABC to 19 July 1990 CBS archival news footage 1986-1990 - ABC and CBS news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00052)
Box 1 5 April 1986 ABC to 10 April 1986 CBS archival news footage 1986 - ABC and CBS news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00049)
Box 1 15 April 1986 ABC to 15 April 1988 NBC archival news footage 1986-1988 - ABC and NBC news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00053)
Box 1 21 December 1988 ABC to 15 April 1996 CNN archival news footage 1988-1996 - ABC and CNN news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00050)
Box 1 28 December 1988 ABC to 20 August 2009 NBC archival news footage 1988-2009 - ABC and NBC news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00048)
Box 1 30 November 1989 ABC Primetime Live 1989 - ABC Primetime Live footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00060)
Box 1 14 November 1991 ABC Nightline to 20 April 1992 ABC Nightline 1991-1992 - ABC Nightline footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00059)
Box 1 18 December 1993 NBC to 20 May 2012 NBC archival news footage 1993-2012 - NBC news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00055)
Box 1 15 April 1999 CNN to 20 October 2011 CBS archival news footage 1999-2011 - CNN and CBS news footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00051)
Box 1 26 September 2012 CNN to 31 August 2014 ABC archival news footage 2012-2014 - CNN and ABC footage obtained from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00058)
Box 1 ABC news great T.V. nes stories: 17 days of terror: the hijack of TWA 847 1989 - compilation news clips about TWA 847, running time 01:00:00 VHS (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00008)
Box 1 ABC news great T.V. nes stories: 17 days of terror: the hijack of TWA 847 31 December 2011 - compilation news clips about TWA 847, running time 01:05:09 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00028)
Box 1 ABC news great T.V news stories: Muammar Qaddafi: Libya's radical ruler 1989 - compilation news clips about Muammar Qaddafi, running time 01:00:00 VHS (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00007)
Box 1 ABC news great T.V news stories: Muammar Qaddafi: Libya's radical ruler 31 December 2011 - compilation news clips about Muammar Qaddafi, running time 01:00:00 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00027)
Box 1 ABC news great T.V. news stories: terrorism: the new world war 1989 - compilation news clips about terrorism, running time 01:00:00 VHS (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00009)
Box 1 ABC news great T.V. news stories: terrorism: the new world war 31 December 2011 - compilation news clips about terrorism, running time 01:30:13 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00017)
Box 1 Backlight: Lockerbie revisited 22 April 2009 - Netherlands Public Broadcasting documentary about Pan Am 103, running time 00:59:51 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00043)
Box 1 La Belle Disco film (German) 16 October 2012 - German documentary about La Belle Disco bombing, running time 00:43:07 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00046)
Box 1 BStU - archiv der zentralstelle undated - German archive footage, running time 01:03:00 Betacam (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00002)
Box 1 The conspiracy files: Lockerbie 30 May 2008 - BBC News program about Lockerbie bombing, running time 00:59:00 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00016)
Box 1 Did Gaddafi kill my daughter? undated - ITV program about Jim Swire and Pan Am 103, running time 00:23:20 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00018)
Box 1 E. Bollier (MEBO doc) 4 December 2012 - CD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00033)
Box 1 Die firma: das ministerium fur staatssicherheit 2007 - Film Europa documentary about the Stasi, running time 01:30:00 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00044)
Box 1 Flight 103 - HBO undated - ddramatic production of Pan Am 103 bombing investigation VHS (ID#: sua_dornsteint_ken_av_00005)
Box 1 Kadhafi: notre meilleur ennemi and mort ou vif 2011 - two documentaries about Muammar Qaddafi, running time 03:13:00 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00045)
Box 1 L1011 blast test forward cargo hold, baseline | pressurized 30 June 2015 - cargo bomb test conducted 16 January 1998 in Mobile, Alabama. Edited for PBS Frontline 30 June 2015.running time 00:03:25 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00032)
Box 1 Libya 21 July 2006 - Libya: Out of the Shadows short version, running time 00:13:18 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00025)
Box 1 Libya: out of the shadows rough cut 22 May 2006 - Frontline program about Libya, post-Qaddafi, running time 00:19:23 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00019)
Box 1 Libya havva, the revolution and me undated - documentary about Libyan revolution, running time 01:20:19 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00020)
Box 1 Libya, the revolutin and me undated DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00015)
Box 1 Libyan news coverage of Megrahi return 18 September 2012 - news clips from Libya, running time 01:05:48 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00029)
Box 1 The Lockerbie bombing 25 November 2013 - Smithsonian Networks documentary program about Pan Am 103, running time 00:51:00 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00034)
Box 1 Lockerbie: case closed 27 February 2012 - Al Jazeera documentary about Pan Am 103, running time 00:47:00 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00014)
Box 1 Megrahi ABC int. 27 November 1991 - ABC news interview with Megrahi, running time00:05:42 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00021)
Box 1 Le memorial du tenere: les familles du DC10 d'UTA 13 May 2009 - documentary about crash of UTA DC10 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00040)
Box 1 Michelle Ciulla doc. Lockerbie - 5 years 31 December 2011 - running time 01:00:04 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00026)
Box 1 A No Greater Love candlelight ceremony to honor those who died in the Lockerbie Air Disaster 21 December 1993 - running time 00:40:00 VHS (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00003)
Box 1 Only Americans by Bonnie Abrams, in remembrance of all the victims of Pan Am Flight 103 undated - audio recording by Bonnie Abrams 1/8 inch audio cassette (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00035)
Box 1 An order from Tripolis to kill - the La Belle bombing 12 November 2003 - German film about La Belle Disco bombing, running time 00:43:00 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00013)
Box 1 Stasi 18 September 2012 - training footage (drills, obstacle courses, etc.) DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00012)
Box 1 Surviving Lockerbie undated - RDF International television program VHS (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00004)
Box 1 Tonight: did Gaddafi kill my daughter 31 December 2004 - ITV program about Jim Swire and Pan Am 103, running time 00:26:25 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00042)
Box 1 Tonight: did Gaddafi kill my daughter 19 January 2012 - ITV program about Jim Swire and Pan Am 103, running time 00:24:26 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00031)
Box 1 The tragedy of Flight 103: the inside story 1991 - dramatic production of Pan Am 103 bombing investigation, running time 01:26:00 laserdisc (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00001)
Box 1 World in action: the man who is blackmailing Britain undated - Granada documentary news program about Abu Nidal, running time 00:29:12 DVD (ID#: sua_dornstein_ken_av_00041)
Awards
Box 2 Keeping the Spirit Alive award (Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc.) 21 December 2015
Posters
FC 2-3 Reward posters undated
MC 21-4 Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State poster undated
Research files
Box 2 Abdel Majid Giaka: (1) CIA cables; (2) FBI/Scottish interviews; (3) Zeist testimony; (4) original reporting 1988-2013 (4 folders)
Box 2 Abu Nidal organization/Atef Abu Bakr 1973-2013 (5 folders)
Box 3 Additional PFLP-GC (Khressat, TALB, Goben, BKA files...) 1988-2012 (3 folders)
Air disasters
Box 3 Breakups/decompressions 1995-2001 (2 folders)
Box 3 Early air disasters 1947-2000 (3 folders)
Box 4 Last things 1995-2001
Box 4 Non-United States 1979-1996 (2 folders)
Box 4 Notes 1996-1999
Box 4 Survivor literature 1974-2001
Box 4 United States 1960-1999 (2 folders)
Box 5 Air India Flight 182 1986-2000 (2 folders)
Box 5 (1) BKA files on Pan Am 103; (2) Stasi files on La Belle 1986 (5 folders)
German
Box 5 Brian Murtagh photographs undated
Box 6 CIA counter terror/NFSL 1983-2005 (2 folders)
Box 6 Documents: (1) Pan Am 103 (general); (2) Togo/Senegal; (3) Pan Am 073 1986-2013 (4 folders)
French
Box 7 Edwin Bollier (Zeist, CIA, BKA) 1984-2012 (7 folders)
German
Box 7 El dorado canyon 1986
Box 8 Giaka/cables (from Zeist) 2000 (2 folders)
Box 25 Interviews for Eclipse: the last days of the CIA undated
Box 8 Interviews with Megrahi and Fhimah 1991-2004
Box 8 Iran: general and terror 1988-1998
Box 8 Iran Air 659 1988-2002
Box 8 Journal from Lockerbie trip 1996
Box 8 JRA/PFLP/W. Haddad, etc. (L. Dahlke, R. Igel, others) 1986-2013 (2 folders)
Box 9 JRA/PFLP/W. Haddad, etc. (L. Dahlke, R. Igel, others) 1986-2013 (2 folders)
Box 9 La Belle Disco bombing (Stasi files) 1986-2013 (5 folders)
German
Libya
Box 10 [General] 2003-2005 (5 folders)
Box 10 General, 1969-present 1978-2008
Box 11 Libya: human rights issues 2004-2006 (2 folders)
Box 11 Libya and terror 1993-2005 (3 folders)
Box 11 Libya: reaction to [Pan Am] 103 1988-1999
Box 11 Libya: Reagan administration 1980-2003
Box 12 Lockerbie investigation 1988-1996
Box 12 Lockerbie Trial Images January 2001
Lockerbie (town/1996) history
Box 12 Ananndale herald 1987-1996 (2 folders)
Box 12 Economic development 1988-1999
Box 12 Lockerbie [binder] 1996-2002
Box 12 Lockerbie families/memorial - United States 1988-1998
Box 13 Lockerbie families/memorial - United States 1988-1998
Box 13 Lockerbie: Thomas Henderson 1937
Box 13 Lockerbie (Town), December 1988- 1988-2004 (2 folders)
Box 13 Original reports 1988-1989
Box 13 Pan Am 103 aftermath, Lockerbie political/opinion 1988-1995
Box 13 Town guides [received empty] undated
Box 14 Town history 1827-1997 (4 folders)
Box 14 Various: disaster-related 1988-1995
Box 14 Loose materials: interviews, notes, clippings 1988-2013 (2 folders)
Box 15 Maps of Lockerbie and surrounding area 1994-1995
MC 21-4 Map of where Pan Am 103 passengers fell [created by Ken Dornstein] undated
RESTRICTED: Due to its fragility, access to the map is restricted.
Box 15 Master chronologies (bomb plot; United States v. Libya) undated
Box 15 Master list of Libyans: (1) master list of names; (2) information on each; (3) Senegal/Togo timers (CIA); (4) leads/current status 1984-2013 (5 folders)
Box 15 Master timeline of the investigation (RTF version of Aeon Timeline) undated
Box 16 (1) Megrahi and Fhimah: statements, interviews; (2) SCCRC [Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission]: statement of reasons; (3) Zeist verdict notes and appeal 1991-2012 (7 folders)
Box 17 Monitor Group/Libya 2006-2009
Box 17 Naples bombing, 1988 1988-2013 (2 folders)
Italian
Box 17 Notes re: map of where Pan Am 103 passengers fell [circa 1996]
Pain and suffering hearings
Box 17 Last moments 1973-2002 (2 folders)
Box 17 Last moments - Pan Am 103 only 1989-2001
Box 18 Pain and suffering hearings 1992 (3 folders)
Pan Am history
Pan Am 103 aftermath
Box 18 Boeing 747 and technical plane facts 1969-2002
Box 18 Fall of Pan Am 1964-1996
Box 18 Pan Am disasters 1947-1998 (2 folders)
Box 18 Pan Am historical society 1993-1998
Box 19 The new Pan Am 1989-2000
Box 19 PFLP-GC [Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command]; "Autumn Leaves;" Abu Talb 1988-2014 (4 folders)
Box 19 Research for PBS/Frontline documentary 1990
Box 19 PFLP-GC [Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command], PSF [Palestinian Popular Struggle Front] 1969-2004 (2 folders)
Box 20 Post-Libya indictment news 1991-1997
Box 20 Qaddafi personal photographs undated
Box 20 Qaddafi studies 1974-2002 (2 folders)
Box 20 Reagan-era memoirs 1990-2005
Box 25 Research for Eclipse: the last days of the CIA undated
Box 20 Return of Qaddafi 2001-2002
Box 21 Saif Qaddafi 2000-2006 (2 folders)
French
Box 21 Television transcripts 1989-2000
Box 21 Television transcripts/indictment transcript 1988-1999
Box 21 TWA 800 1996-1999
Box 21 United States attack (1986) - firsthand accounts 1986-1992
Box 22 United States government official documents: (1) Ed Wilson papers; (2) declassified CIA documents; (3) court files (Kikumura, Naples: April 1988); (4) official chronologies 1984-2014 (4 folders)
Box 22 United States government officials 1988-2012
Box 22 UTA 772 documents (from French investigation, Crowell) 1987-2013 (3 folders)
French
Box 23 UTA 772 documents (from French investigation, Crowell) 1987-2013 (4 folders)
French
Box 23 Zeist appeal decision 1999-2002 (2 folders)
Box 23 Zeist (notes, documents) 1999-2002 (2 folders)
Box 24 Zeist trial (transcripts, summaries) 2000-2001 (5 folders)

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