Processing the William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Papers

FAIN: PW-269370-20

Museum of Flight Foundation (Seattle, WA 98108-4097)
Nicole Davis (Project Director: July 2019 to present)

The arrangement, description, cataloging, and selected digitization of 170 cubic feet of archival materials and 260 objects from the William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Collection, including correspondence, photographs, model planes, invention prototypes, and 33 audio recordings and 18 films related to groundbreaking discoveries in aviation and radio that span the twentieth century.

The Museum of Flight's project to arrange and describe the papers of William P. and Moya Olsen Lear will create accessibility to this collection documenting the business ventures of one of the U.S.’s most prolific inventors. 170 cubic feet of archival material spanning the 1920s-1995 will be arranged and described, culminating in the creation of a new publicly accessible finding aid. Approximately 5,000 scans of unique items in the collection, including correspondence, photographs, patent documents, and other business materials will be made available online. In addition, approximately 260 artifacts such as model planes and invention prototypes will be cataloged and photographed and 33 audio recordings and 18 films will be preserved and digitized. The collection will serve as a unique scholarly resource that illustrates ventures in not only aviation history but navigation, radio, motors, and more.

Associated Products

Guide to the William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Papers (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)
Title: Guide to the William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Papers
Author: Jenn Parent
Author: Charise Dinges
Author: Karen Bean
Author: Ali Lane
Author: Arabella Matthews
Author: Nicole Davis
Abstract: William P. “Bill” Lear was a prolific inventor with dozens of patents for a variety of machines to his name but is most famous for his work in the aviation field. Moya Marie Olsen Lear was a philanthropist, businesswoman, and the wife of aviation pioneer Bill Lear. The collection documents Bill Lear's inventions and career in the fields of radio navigation, aircraft design, the 8-track player, and his efforts at a steam-powered turbine. Materials are predominantly affiliated with Lear’s many companies, spanning almost the entirety of his career and show Moya’s involvement with his work as well. Some personal materials are also present.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://archives.museumofflight.org/repositories/2/resources/63
Primary URL Description: Finding aid for the William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Papers
Access Model: open access

Don't Tell Me It Can't Be Done (Article)
Title: Don't Tell Me It Can't Be Done
Author: Jenn Parent
Abstract: Article describing the processing of the William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Papers at the Museum of Flight Dahlberg Research Center.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://indd.adobe.com/view/aa90c3c0-5109-4851-9994-984a05c6eb27
Primary URL Description: Aloft magazine, November/December 2022 issue; article on magazine page 12, PDF page 7
Access Model: open
Format: Magazine
Publisher: The Museum of Flight

---