Guide to the Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers AR.2023.005
First edition
Gledhill Library
2023-05-20
136 E. De La Guerra
Santa Barbara, California 93101
archivist@sbhistorical.org
Contributing Institution:
Gledhill Library
Title: Levine (Marvin) 1969 Oil Spill Papers
Creator:
Levine, Marvin, 1930-2013
Identifier/Call Number: AR.2023.005
Physical Description:
.4 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1969-1989
Abstract: The Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers are a selection of materials covering the 5-year aftermath of the 1969 Santa Barbara
Channel oil spill from the point of view of the Santa Barbara County government as it worked to hold Union Oil Company responsibile
for clean-up of an environmental catasophe.
Language of Material:
English
.
Scope and Contents
The Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers cover the 5-year period from the 1969 Santa Barbara Channel oil spill to 1974 when
a settlement was reached between Santa Barbara County and Union Oil. The collection contains correspondence, court documents,
congressional testimony, press releases, technical data, and news clips related to County Counsel Marvin Levine's involvement
in successfully holding Union Oil responsible for clean-up of the disaster.
Biographical / Historical
Marvin Levine (1930-2013) served as Chief Deputy County Counsel for Santa Barbara County, California. He represented the County
in the lawsuit against Union Oil Company following the environmental disaster of the Santa Barbara Channel Oil Blowout of
1969.
Marvin "Marv" Levine was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School, Long Island
University and Brooklyn Law School. Law school was interrupted by military service during the Korean Conflict. He served in
the Army as a paratrooper in the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Throughout
his life, he was proud of having been an Airborne trooper and had many jumps to his credit.
Following his admission to the bar, he had a small practice in Manhattan, New York City, New York. In 1968, Levine was hired
as Deputy County Counsel by Santa Barbara County, California. Throughout his career, he was Chief Deputy County Counsel, Assistant
County Counsel and Acting County Counsel before his retirement in 1990.
One of Levine's proudest career achievements was representing Santa Barbara County in the lawsuit against Union Oil Company,
et. al. following the catastrophic Santa Barbara Channel Oil Blowout of 1969. The lawsuit achieved a substantial settlement
for Santa Barbara County and, as a side effect, encouraged the environmental movement.
Besides being an attorney, Marv pursued his passion for drawing and painting. He was also a music lover and collector and
restorer of string instruments. For many years he played recorder music in a quartet of other accomplished musicians in Santa
Barbara.
Arrangement
The Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers are arranged in two (2) series:
1) County Counsel documents, 1969-1979
2) News stories, 1969-1989
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifted by Margaret E. Levine in May 2023.
Other Finding Aids
Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers Donor Inventory
https://bit.ly/Levine_1969_Papers
Processing Information
Collection processed by Chris S. Ervin CA in May 2023
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers, AR-2023-005, Gledhill Library, Santa Barbara Historical Museum,
Santa Barbara, California.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact
the Head Archivist of the Gledhill Library.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Oil spills -- California -- Santa Barbara Channel
Oil spills -- Cleanup
Oil spills -- Law and legislation
Environmental disasters -- Law and legislation
Santa Barbara County (Calif.)
Union Oil Company of California
box AR-2023-005
County Counsel documents
1969-1979
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence
ACLU
1969-1972
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Congressional documents
1969-1975
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Correspondence
1969-1975
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Court documents
1970
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Memorandum
1969
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Press releases
1969
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Settlement
1972-1974
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Technical facts, diagrams, geological survey map
1979
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Material Specific Details: U.S. Dept, of the Interior Survey Map of Dos Cuadros Oil Field;
Illustrations include drawings made by Levine of Union Oil Platform showing how the blowout occurred;
Richard Nixon cartoon by Levine.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Geology -- Maps
Charts, diagrams, etc.
box AR-2023-005
News Clippings
1969-1989
1969-1976
Physical Description: 9 Folder(s)
Material Specific Details: Clippings are from the following periodicals:
ACLU Open Forum,
Farmer Consumer Reporter,
Lompoc Record,
Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Los Angeles Times,
New York Times,
Santa Barbara News-Press,
Time Magazine.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Oil spill
1969
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Lawsuits
1970
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Drilling ban
1971
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Litigation
1972
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Drilling ban upheld
1973
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Settlement
1974
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Oil lease suspensions
1975
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
New drilling okayed
1976
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
Looking back
1984
1989
Physical Description: 1 Folder(s)
