The Ellis Levin Boeing Papers documents Ellis Levin's 54-year career with the Boeing Company. This collection, which dates from 1937-1983, consists of reports, logs, agendas, notes, summaries, graphs, technical diagrams, hand-drawn diagrams and illustrations, lithographs, correspondence, articles, drafts of publications, speech scripts, clippings, personnel records, memorandums, course work, pamphlets, and company announcements, as well as 422 photographic prints and 2 negatives. The materials offer a holistic view of Levin’s career, documenting his early years with the company working on aircraft design, then his involvement with the company’s aerospace sector, to his final position within Boeing’s Computer Service Division. The collection has been organized into seven series that reflect Levin’s career progression: Series I. Vibration Unit, 1942-1944, Series II. Physical Research Unit, 1944-1958, Series III. Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar Program, 1958-1963, Series IV. Lunar Orbiter Program, 1958-1970, Series V. Computer Service Division, 1970-1983, Series VI. Boeing Company Management, 1945-1983, and Series VII. Personal, 1937-1975.

Series I. Vibration Unit is the smallest series within the collection and consists of both textual and visual materials. Boeing’s Vibration Unit was the first division Levin was assigned to when he began his employment with the company. This division worked on developing electrical and electronic instrumentation for measurement of vibration and strain in aircraft, specifically Boeing’s B-17 aircraft. There are photographs of Levin conducting ground and flight vibration tests, as well as clippings, reports, notes, and correspondence, Levin’s personal binder with hand-written notes and hand-drawn diagrams, graphs, and summaries, all of which offer insight into his contribution to the unit.

Series II. Physical Research Unit documents Levin’s position within the Physical Research Center. During his time in the department, he continued to work as an engineer though he took a position as an Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Technical Staff, assisting him in management and planning for the Technical Staff role in Boeing’s B-52, 707, and 110-A programs. In addition, he began implementing projects related to Boeing’s missile programs, such as the Bomarc missile. The documents that illustrate this period of Levin’s career include reports, technical diagrams, correspondence, personnel records, speeches, lectures, graphs, memorandums, notes, work orders, procurement logs, budgets, and photographs.

Series III. Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar Program contains primarily textual documents such as reports, correspondence, timelines, notes, clippings, organizational charts, articles, graphs, pamphlets, memorandums, meeting minutes. In addition to the textual materials there are a small number of illustrations and photographic reproductions of concept art related to the program. These documents offer insight into Levin’s work overseeing technical integration of the electronic system in the overall Dyna-Soar Program and later became responsible for program direction comparative systems analysis and providing program direction for the military and scientific subsystems portion of the program.

Series IV. Lunar Orbiter Program is the most extensive part of the collection and consists of a large number of visual and textual documents. These materials reflect Levin’s involvement with Boeing’s Lunar Orbiter Program where he was closely associated with design and flight data of the Lunar Orbiter missions as a Systems Engineering Manager. He oversaw the Lunar Orbiter Photographic Project, capturing and collecting visual documentation on the effects of sun angles on craters. There are images with captions of the sites the Lunar Orbiter photographed while on missions, along with charts, graphs, reports, and designs documenting the project. Other materials related to the program include, agendas, reports, proposals, correspondence, clippings, business cards, pamphlets, timelines, and correspondence. In addition, there are materials connected to Levin’s role as manager within the department, such as personnel records, employee lists, job descriptions, resumes, evaluation forms, assignments, notes, and proposals.

Series V. Computer Service Division is the final aspect of Levin’s career with Boeing that is documented in the collection. Levin worked in sales for the Computer Service Division and the series primarily consists of operational materials related to his position, such as reports, forms, notes, sales and price lists, guidelines, as well as correspondence, clippings, and articles related to the division’s services.

Series VI. Boeing Company Management consists of general management materials collected by Levin over the course of his career at Boeing such as company bulletins, reports, pamphlets, agendas, by-laws, correspondence, policies, organization charts, reports, and operational plans. In addition, there are documents related to Levin’s training as he was promoted to management positions and his work with the Boeing Aerospace Group.

Series VII. Personal is the final aspect of the collection and focuses on Levin’s course work in the field of mathematics and engineering, clippings, articles, microforms, and brochures that he collected related to his interest in aerospace, as well as some personal writings, correspondence, and photographs.