Harvey C. Christen papers

Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2016
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Harvey C. Christen papers
Inclusive Dates: 1916-2000
Bulk Dates: 1944-1993
Collection Number: mssChristenpapers
Creator: Christen, Harvey C., 1910-1993
Extent: 13 boxes, 14 albums, and 1 oversize folder
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The collection contains the papers and photographs of Lockheed executive Harvey C. Christen.
Language of Material: The records are in English.

Administration Information

Access

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, please go to following web site .

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Harvey C. Christen papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Acquisition Information

The collection was a gift to the Huntington Library from Mr. & Mrs. Burt Basney, February 2007 and February 2017.

Biography

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.

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.

Arrangement

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

Indexing Terms

Personal Names

Christen, Harvey C., 1910-1993
Johnson, Clarence L. -- Photographs
Earhart, Amelia, 1897-1937 -- Photographs
Hawkins, Willis M.
Hughes, Howard, 1905-1976 -- Photographs
Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974 -- Photographs
Post, Wiley, 1898-1935 -- Photographs
Turner, Roscoe, 1895-1970 -- Photographs

Corporate Names

Lockheed Advanced Development Company -- History
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation -- History
Lockheed Corporation -- History
Vega Aircraft Corporation -- History

Subjects

Aeronautics -- History -- 20th century
Aircraft industry -- California -- History -- 20th century
Air pilots -- United States
Air pilots -- Photographs
Airplanes -- History
Airplanes -- Photographs
Airplanes, Military -- History -- 20th century
Biplanes
World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations, American -- Photographs
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American -- Photographs

Geographic Areas

Hoover Dam (Ariz. and Nev.) -- Photographs

Genre

Clippings (information artifacts) -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century
Manuscripts -- 20th century
Memorandums -- 20th century
Newsletters -- 20th century
Photograph albums -- 20th century
Photographs -- 20th century


 

Correspondence, Manuscripts and Subject Files

Physical Description: Boxes 1-3
Box 1

Aerospace Articles - GELAC

Folder  1

Aerospace Articles (1982-1985)

Folder  2

Amelia Earhart (1936-1991)

Folder  3

Biographical Information for "Old Timers" [undated]

Folder  4

Biographical Sketch of Amelia Earhart (1965)

Folder  5

Carol L. Osborne (1922-1993)

Folder  6

Don "Rody" Rodewald Solo Flight (1984-1985)

Folder  7

Dorothy Rogers' Poem re: Lockheed (1967)

Folder  8

GELAC (1971)

Box 2

Harvey C. Christen - Lockheed Corporate Memos and Bulletins

Folder  1

Harvey C. Christen - Biographical Information (1953-1975)

Folder  2

Harvey C. Christen - Manuscripts and Talks (1928-1971)

Folder  3

Harvey C. Christen - Personal, 1988 (1988)

Folder  4

Harvey C. Christen - Personal Correspondence, 1970 (1970)

Folder  5

Harvey C. Christen - Printed Booklet (1958-1970)

Folder  6

Interviews with Harvey C. Christen, Willis Hawkins et al. [undated]

Folder  7

Lady Southern Cross (1971-1992)

Folder  8

Lockheed and Langford Lodge, 1942-1944, by Gerrit J. Colclough (1992)

Folder  9

Lockheed and Naval History (1936-1992)

Folder  10

Lockheed Corporate Information (1932-1987)

Folder  11

Lockheed Corporate Memos and Bulletins (1974-1987)

Box 3

Lockheed Press Reports - William R. Montgomery

Folder  1

Lockheed Press Reports (1993)

Folder  2

Lockheed Quality Assurance (1967-1970)

Folder  3

Lockheed Quality Assurance Overview (1975, Dec. 11)

Folder  4

Lockheed Speeches/Papers (1960-1974)

Folder  5

Miscellaneous Aviation (1980-1986)

Folder  6

Miscellaneous Correspondence (1928-1993)

Folder  7

Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Printed Material (1961-1976)

Folder  8

Newspaper Clippings (1939-1995)

Folder  9

Reports, Memos, Records of Planes (1928-1982)

Folder  10

Star Dusters History (1972-1985)

Folder  11

William R. Montgomery Information (1937)

 

Published Material and Newsletters

Physical Description: Boxes 4-7
Box 4

Aircraft - Lockheed Publications

Folder  1

Aircraft of the Roaring 20's (1971)

Folder  2

American Aviation Historical Society Journal (1970-1972)

Folder  3

Antique Airplane Association (1969)

Folder  4

Armchair Aviator (1972, Oct.)

Folder  5

Congressional Record Vol. 107, No. 154 (1961, Sep. 5)

Folder  6

Detroit Aicraft Corporation [undated]

Folder  7

LATe News (1973, Dec.)

Folder  8

Lockheed Management Club of Georgia (1966)

Folder  9

Lockheed Memorabilia (1976)

Folder  10

Lockheed Product Descriptions and Publicity ([1928]-1986)

Folder  11

Lockheed Publications (1940-1976)

Box 5

Lockheed Star - Star: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, 1989

Folder  1

The Lockheed Star (1944-1987)

Folder  2

The Lockheed-Vega Star (1941-1943)

Folder  3

Magzine Clippings (1938-1992)

Folder  4

OX5 News (1984-1993)

Folder  5

Popular Science (1994, Oct.)

Folder  6

Sport Aviation (1969-1970)

Folder  7

Star: Lockheed Advanced Development Company (1991-1993)

Folder  8

Star: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company (1988)

Folder  9

Star: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company (1989)

Box 6

Star: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, 1990 - Star Dusters Newsletters, 1983

Folder  1

Star: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company (1990)

Folder  2

Star: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company (1991)

Folder  3

Star: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company (1992)

Folder  4

Star: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company (1993)

Folder  5

Star Dusters (1975-1981)

Folder  6

Star Dusters Newsletters (1981-1982)

Folder  7

Star Dusters Newsletters (1983)

Box 7

Star Dusters Newsletters, 1984 - Working Women's Seminar

Folder  1

Star Dusters Newsletters (1984-1987)

Folder  2

Star Dusters Newsletters (1988-1989)

Folder  3

Star Dusters Newsletters (1990-1991)

Folder  4

Star Dusters Newsletters (1993-1994)

Folder  5

Stardust Newsletters (1970-1992)

Folder  6

A Survey of Public Knowledge of Aircraft in the United States (1944)

Folder  7

Tale Winds (1989, Oct.)

Folder  8

Women in Aviation Calendars (1999-2000)

Folder  9

Working Women's Seminar: Calendar (1986)

 

Photographs

Physical Description: Box 8
Box 8

Photographs

Folder  1

Autographed Photographs (1930-1976)

Folder  2

Old Photographs (1930s)

Folder  3

Photographs: Airplanes (1942-1956)

Folder  4

Photographs: Harvey C. Christen ([1932]-1969)

Folder  5

Photographs: Lockheed (1916-1976)

 

Photograph Albums

Physical Description: Photograph Albums 1-14
Album  Photograph Album 1

Early Aircraft and People: Photos Series: 1000, 1300, 1400

Album  Photograph Album 2

Constitution: Photos Series: 1478 to 1485, 1500

Album  Photograph Album 3

Vega, Sirius, Gliders/Early Aircraft: Photos Series: 2000, 2300

Album  Photograph Album 4

Photos Series: 2400, 2500, 2700

Album  Photograph Album 5

Early Press Releases: Photos Series: 2935

Album  Photograph Album 6

Photos Series: 3000, 3100, 3200, 4000

Album  Photograph Album 7

Foreign Aircraft and Scene Views: Photo Series: 4100, 4300, 5000, 6000, 6100

Album  Photograph Album 8

Hoover Dam, Early Aircraft and War Years: Photos Series: 6400, 6500 to 6820

Album  Photograph Album 9

Photos Series: 6850, 6880, 6900, 7400

Album  Photograph Album 10

Early Aircraft and Lockheed Personnel: Photos Series: 7000

Album  Photograph Album 11

Personal Lockheed Info./Correspondence: Photos Series: 7100

Album  Photograph Album 12

Clippings: Photos Series: 7200

Album  Photograph Album 13

Amelia Earhart: Photos Series: 1451 to 1477

Album  Photograph Album 14

Inventory of Lockheed Photographs

 

VHS

Physical Description: Box 9
Box 9

VHS

Included: Harvey Christen Interview Lockheed History Tape 1, 10-20-90; Harvey Christen Interview Lockheed History Tape 2, 10-20-90; Harvey Christen Interview Lockheed History Tape 3, 10-20-90; Birthplace of Lockheed Tapes 1-3; Birthplace of Lockheed Tapes 4-6; Birthplace of Lockheed Tapes 7-9; Birthplace of Lockheed Tapes tail end of 9; Birthplace of Lockheed Tapes 10-12; Birthplace of Lockheed Tapes 13-15; and The Birthplace of Lockheed “History of the Burbank Facility”
 

Additional Material

Physical Description: Boxes 10-13
Box 10

Additional Material: Air-Letters

Folder  1

Air Progress (1986, Dec.)

Folder  2

American Aeronaut (1973, May)

Folder  3

B-2 Advanced Technology Bomber [1990]

Folder  4

Christen - Bio Info (1963-1975)

Folder  5

Correspondence (1970-1973)

Folder  6

Courier (1994, Oct.)

Folder  7

Dan Haughton/Rotary (1972)

Folder  8

A Frank Look at Lockheed (D.J. Haughton - Hot Seat) (1964-1974)

Folder  9

Harvey Christen (1927-1975)

Folder  10

Harvey Christen Speech Material (1951-1970)

Folder  11

LATe NEWS (1971-1974)

Folder  12

The Leader (1973, July)

Folder  13

Letters to Senators & Congressmen (1971)

Folder  14

Letters to Senators & Congressmen (1971)

Box 11

Additional Material: Lockheed Aircraftsman-Lockheed Life

Folder  1

The Lockheed Aircraftsman (1937-1941)

Folder  2

Lockheed and Congress (1971)

Folder  3

Lockheed and Congress (1971)

Folder  4

Lockheed and Congress and Rolls Royce (1971)

Folder  5

Lockheed and Congress and Rolls Royce (1971)

Folder  6

Lockheed History: Fragmentary Histories (1939-1974)

Folder  7

Lockheed in the 1950s [1950s]

Folder  8

Lockheed Life (1980-1982)

Box 12

Additional Material: Lockheed Log-Speech and Reference

Folder  1

Lockheed Log (1968, Sep.)

Folder  2

Lockheed Management Club (1951-1974)

Folder  3

Lockheed Service News (1958, Jan.-Feb.)

Folder  4

Lockheed Southern Star (1956-1985)

Folder  5

Lockheed SST Team Resumes of Key Personnel (1966, Sep. 26)

Folder  6

Lockheed Today (1992-1993)

Folder  7

Lockheed-Vega Aircraftsman (1943, May)

Folder  8

Newspaper Clippings (1970-1971)

Folder  9

So. Calif. Industrial News (1966-1967)

Folder  10

A Special Study of Operation "Vittles" (1949, Apr.)

Folder  11

Specifications (1940-1957)

Folder  12

Speech and Reference Material (1965-1975)

Folder  13

Speech and Reference Material (1965-1975)

Box 13

Additional Material: Speech Material-US Spyplanes

Folder  1

Speech Material - Harvey Christen (1953-1976)

Folder  2

Speech Material - Harvey Christen (1967-1968)

Folder  3

Star Gazer (1991)

Folder  4

Starduster's Reunion (1987)

Folder  5

Starlight (1993, Mar.)

Folder  6

The Story of Lockheed (1951, Feb. 5)

Folder  7

US Spyplanes by Erik Simonsen (1985)

Oversize folder

Panoramic photographs, (1934-1936)

Included: Center Section-Fuselage Depts.; Office Staff; Shop Personnel; Final Assembly; and Factor Personnel