Milton Wright, a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, is probably most famous as the father to aviation pioneers, Wilbur and Orville Wright. Though typically referred to as Bishop Milton Wright due to his devotion and involvement in the church, Wright was also a keen genealogist and a committed diarist. This collection of his diaries range from entries as a young man in 1857 until his death in 1917. Wright’s meticulous recording ran from the quotidian like the weather and tracking his expenses, to the extraordinary, like Wilbur and Orville’s first flight. The Bishop’s diaries provide a window not only on the achievements of his famous progeny, but his life and a record of life around the dawn of the 20th century.
For more information on this collection, please view the collection finding aid or visit Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1893
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1893 and continue until December 1893. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of the Wilbur and Orville attending the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1892
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1892 and continue until December 1892. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Wilbur and Orville both purchasing bicycles, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1891
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1891 and continue until December 1891. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1890
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1890 and continue until December 1890. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Wilbur and Orville converting the West Side News into the Evening Item, and Paul Laurence Dunbar starts the Tattler. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1889
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1889 and continue until December 1889. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Orville Wright begins the publication of the West Side News, and Susan Koerner Wright dies at the age of 58 on July 4th. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1888
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1888 and continue until December 1888. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1887
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1887 and continue until December 1887. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Orville begins Dayton Central High School, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1886
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1886 and continue until December 1886. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Orville Wright and Ed Sines starting the Midget and Reuchlin Wright organizing the Ten Dayton Boys Club. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1885
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1885 and continue until December 1885. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Milton Wright being re-elected as Bishop and being assigned to the Pacific Coast, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1884
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries began on January 1884 and continue until December, 1884. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of the Wright Family returning to live in Dayton which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1883
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on January 1883 and continue until December 1883. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1882
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on January 1882 and continue until December 1882. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1881
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on January 1881 and continue until December 1881. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Wright being defeated in an election for bishop and Wilbur Wright completing high school, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1880
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on January 1880 and continues until December 1880. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Wright building a new home in Adair, Iowa, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1879
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on January 1879 and continue until December 1879. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures.Of particular note, this diary includes a short record of Milton Wright almost being arrested because of a mistaken identity, Wright’s firstborn, Reuchlin, turning eighteen, and more. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1878
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on January 1878 and continue until December 1878. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Milton Wright giving his sons, Wilbur and Orville a Pénaud Helicopter toy. This toy is significant because it is viewed as the Wright Brothers' first exposure to flight, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1877
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on May 5, 1877 and continue until December 31, 1877. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes entries regarding Wright being elected to Bishop in the church, and being charged with responsibility for the West Mississippi District in his new position, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1869-71
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on January 1, 1869 and continue until August 5, 1971. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a entries related to two factions emerging in church leadership, the Radicals and the Liberals. Wright was a member of the Radicals. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1859
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on December 31, 1858 and continue until January 2, 1860. There is also an entry labeled January 25, 1911 as well. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of Wright's marriage to Susan Koerner, the future mother of the Wright children, which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1859-69-71
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary is a continuation from 1859, but includes entries from 1869-1871. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a entries related to two factions emerging in church leadership, the Radicals and the Liberals. Wright was a member of the Radicals. Also included in this diary is an entry about Orville Wright being born on August 19th, 1871. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1857
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This diary’s entries begin on January 1, 1857 and continue until December 31, 1857. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of the first sermon he preached on August 23 which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
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Milton Wright Diaries: 1857 (revised)(1857-1900 vol. 1)
Milton Wright
Bishop Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, regularly recorded entries in his diary from 1857 until his death in 1917. This is a revised version of Wright's 1857 diary’s made by Wright, himself. His entries begin on January of 1857 and continues sporadically recording information until 1900. Wright records a variety of information regarding his travels, family history, and expenditures. Of particular note, this diary includes a record of his first sermon on August 23, 1857 which the researcher might find of interest. View the transcript of the Milton Wright diaries.
