MS-302 Levitt Luzern Custer Papers

Introduction

Levitt Luzern Custer was a Dayton-area aviator and inventor, and an associate of Orville Wright. During his lifetime he engaged in pioneering balloon experiments, served as an official timer for flight trials, collaborated with Orville Wright on various projects, and invented a wide range of mechanical machines from the statoscope to amusement park rides.

The Levitt Luzern Custer Papers document many of his achievements as well as those of other early aviators, such as the Wright Brothers. Information on early aviators such as the Early Birds who flew before 1916 are also preserved. Patents, blueprints, photographs, and correspondence are also a rich source of research.

The collection spans from 1886 through 1998. It was donated by his son James Custer in August 2000. The collection occupies 10 boxes and 4.5 linear feet. There are no restrictions on this collection.

The collection is arranges into the following series:

Series I Biographical

Series II Patents

Series III Aviation Materials

Series IV Publications

Series V Photographs

Series VI Wright Brothers Materials

Series VII Scrapbooks

Series VIII Films

Biographical Sketch

Levitt Luzern Custer was born on July 27, 1888 in Dayton, Ohio. As a young boy, he frequented the Wright Brothers’ Bicycle Shop, where he met the acquaintance of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Katherine Wright was his Latin teacher at Steele High School. This began a long friendship with the Wrights, particularly Orville.

Custer attended Central District School and Steele High School, both in Dayton. He then attended Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, and the Massachusetts Institute of technology in Cambridge, Mass.

After briefly working for the National cash register Company, he founded the Custer Specialty Company in 1916. There he developed mechanical devises such as the statoscope, cars, motorized invalid chairs, power scooters, and various amusement park rides.

Custer was also a figure in aviation. He was a pioneer in flying and racing hot air balloons. His father Levitt Elsworth Custer had done the same. Custer also became an official timer for the national Aeronautic Association and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Custer officiated with Orville Wright at world record flight trials at McCook Field and Patterson Field, both near Dayton.

Custer was a member of the Dayton Engineers’ Club; Early Birds; National Association of Amusement Parks, Pools, and Beaches; Kiwanis; and Free Masons. Custer was also a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Custer had three sons, James, Randall, and Donald from his first marriage. In his second marriage to Gladys Mills he had one son, Don.

Scope and Content

Series I (Box 1) Biographical

The contents of this series include biographies written by and about Levitt Luzern Custer. Correspondences are also included within this series, and include letters from R.W. Schroeder, Walter R. Brookins, and J.H. Doolittle, all early aviators. Of particular interest are the files of his inventions.

Series II (Box 2) Patents

This series includes original patents, most of which belong to Custer. Some other patents belong to his father, Levitt Elsworth Custer and another inventor John H. Hammond. Of major importance is the invention of the statoscope, a devise used to measure ascension and descension of airplanes, found in file 2 of this series.

Series III (Box 3) Aviation Materials

This series contains materials related to aviation, excluding documents relating to the Wright Brothers, which are found in Series VI. Included in Series III are log books and information on the Early Birds. There are also some newspaper clippings found in this series.

Series IV (Box 4) Publications

This series contains magazine and news publications. Of major interest is a souvenier copy of The Dayton Journal printed in the air from the balloon “Hoosier” on June 29, 1909. The original of this is found in the scrapbook found in Box 9, Series VII. Aviation journals such as the Aero Club of America’s journal are also within this series.

Series V (Box 5) Photographs

This series contains photographs of ballooning, aviation, famous early aviators, and inventors such as Henry Ford. The photos encompass the years 1910-1960.

eries VI (Box 6) Wright Brothers Material

This series contains some very extraordinary materials. A photograph of the first flight with a signature by Orville Wright is preserved here. There are other photographs as well. Dedication documents, booklets, and other memorabilia are also found in this series.

Series VII (Box 7-8) Scrapbooks

Within this series are two scrapbooks belonging to the Custer family. In these, are clippings, documents, and photographs of major events, such as clipping of the work of the Wright Brothers, photographs of the 1913 Dayton flood, and certificates awarded to Custer.

Series VIII (Box 9-10) Films

Within this series are 16-mm reels of aviation races, C.F. Kettering’s 75th birthday party, and Dayton sporting events. In the final box are VHS copies of the 16-mm originals.

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