Harvey C. Christen papers, 1916-2000, bulk 1944-1993

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Christen, Harvey C., 1910-1993
Abstract:
The collection contains the papers and photographs of Lockheed executive Harvey C. Christen.
Extent:
13 boxes, 14 albums, and 1 oversize folder
Language:
The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

The Christen papers consist of papers and photographs saved by Harvey C. Christen, chronicling his career in management through more than four decades of his service to the Lockheed Corporation, as well as his personal interests in aviation in the twentieth century.

The majority of the collection is made up of correspondence, manuscripts, and clippings all related to various aspects of aviation and Lockheed. There are several folders of material related directly to Lockheed Corporation including corporate memos and press reports. Harvey C. Christen was interested in Amelia Earhart and there are two folders of material related to Earhart, her plane, and her dissapearance. Christen also collected information about the crash of Wiley Post, and the disappearance of the Lady Southern Cross.

Series 2 contains published material such as magazines or journals collected by Christen. There are also large runs of Lockheed newsletters including: Star, Star Dusters, and Stardust. Series 3 contains a small selection of loose photographs of Lockheed personnel and airplanes.

Series 5 consists of 9 VHS related to “Out -- Takes, Harvey Christen Interview Lockheed History” and “Birthplace of Lockheed.”

Series 6 contains material that was found later. The contents are similar to the original collection's contents.

At the end of the collection, Series 4, are 13 photograph albums. These albums include photographs of early aircraft, more modern planes (Vega, Sirius, Constitution), Lockheed personnel, including Harvey C. Christen, the Hoover Dam, World War 1 and 2, and foreign aircraft. Photograph album 13 contains photographs of Amelia Earhart. Other pilots present in the photograph albums are: Clarence Johnson, Howard Hughes, Charles Lindbergh, Roscoe Turner, and many others. Album 14 is a complete inventory of the photographs in the albums.

The collection is arranged in the following manner: Boxes 1-3: Correspondence, Manuscripts and Subject Files; Boxes 4-7: Published Material and Newsletters; Box 8: Photographs; and Photograph Albums (1-14); Box 9: VHS; Boxes 10-13: Additional Material

Biographical / historical:

Harvey Carl Christen was born in Wisconsin in September 1910. By high school, his family had moved to Pasadena, California where Christen attended Pasadena High School and Pasadena City College. Christen began working for Lockheed as a summer "office boy" in 1928. Over his four decades of employment at Lockheed he held several positions including: assistant factory superintendent, assistent works manager, chief inspector, director of inspection, director of quality control, design engineer, and project engineer. Christen was interested in all aspects of aviation and its history. He was active in social and community programs such as Rotary and Boy Scouts of America. He was married to Vera Doane who also worked at Lockheed. Christen died in Pasadena in October 1993.

Acquisition information:
The collection was a gift to the Huntington Library from Mr. Mrs. Burt Basney, February 2007 and February 2017.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website