Arthur H. Levin papers, 1946-1997, bulk Bulk, 1960-1989

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Summary

Creators:
Becket, Welton David, 1902-1969, Buff and Hensman, Architects., Levin, Arthur H., 1917-2016, and Neutra, Richard Joseph, 1892-1970
Extent:
60.0 Linear feet (14 boxes, including 2 ledgers, 58 rolls)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Arthur H. Levin papers. Art, Design & Architecture Museum. University of California, Santa Barbara

Background

Scope and content:

The Arthur H. Levin papers comprise circa 80 linear feet of drawings, calculations and notes related to his work as a civil engineer and sometimes contractor and architect in Los Angeles, between circa 1946 and circa 1989. The papers document the structural design of commercial, industrial, and especially hillside dwellings in the Los Angeles area. Client ledgers provide an index to the bulk of the drawings and papers, which are arranged by client name, and chronologically.

Biographical / historical:

Arthur H. Levin was a registered civil engineer, licensed contractor, and became a registered architect in 1986. He was born December 12, 1917 in Chicago, and received an engineering degree from Purdue University in 1939. According to the Purdue alumni news, Levin "wrote the book on engineering for hillside houses." That book was Hillside Building: Design and Construction, 1991.

Levin's professional career was in Los Angeles, California, where he began working for the City of Los Angeles Building and Safety department in 1946. He started his own firm, A. Levin, Inc. in 1956 and worked, as engineer, contractor and architect, until he retired in 1988-1989.

If you've ever seen a building hanging off a hillside in Southern California, chances are Arthur Levin designed the structural engineering. He designed the structures for stores, apartment buildings, small offices, industrial buildings, and about 2,000 hillside dwellings. Among the many architects he worked with are these: Welton Beckett, John Blanton, Buff & Hensman, Benno Fisher, Gene Fong, Ron Goldman, Ray Kappe, A. C. Marton, and Richard Neutra.

Arthur Levin died in Los Angeles, October 26, 2016.

Custodial history:

Papers were donated by the Arthur Levin family, shortly after his death.

Processing information:

Some rolls contain 1 project; most of the box-tubes contain multiple projects which are arranged and grouped together by date (year and month), which is marked on the ends of the tubes.

Arrangement:

Arranged in three series: Administrative files, calculations, and drawings.

Physical location:
ADC regular, box 1: ledgers; Mosher, box 2-14; Mosher, 68+ rolls and box-tubes of drawings
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Partially processed collection; open for use to qualified researchers.

Terms of access:

Copyright has been transferred to the UC Regents.

Preferred citation:

Arthur H. Levin papers. Art, Design & Architecture Museum. University of California, Santa Barbara

Location of this collection:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7130, US
Contact:
(805) 893-2724
adc@museum.ucsb.edu
Website