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)
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 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 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 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 8
Women in Aviation Calendars
(1999-2000)
Folder 9
Working Women's Seminar: Calendar
(1986)
Photographs
Physical Description: Box 8
Folder 1
Autographed Photographs
(1930-1976)
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 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 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 4
Starduster's Reunion
(1987)
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