Katharine Wright Haskell Papers (MS-700)

The digital collection consists of letters written by Katharine Wright Haskell ranging from 1922 to 1926. They contain a variety of details from her personal life, from major historical moments to minor details of her daily life and interpersonal connections. Throughout her life, Katharine assisted her brothers in their engineering and business ventures, was an activist in the first-wave feminist movement, taught high school, and was an Oberlin College Board of Trustees member.

These letters illustrate her life in her later years, allowing us a glimpse of who she was as a private person. She writes of her thoughts on a variety of topics and her daily life. Among other topics and events, we get insight into her life as companion and assistant to her brother Orville, her work on the Oberlin College Board of Trustees, her romantic relationship with Henry, and the many friendships she fostered throughout her life.

These letters were written prior to Katharine's marriage to Henry Haskell. We have chosen to refer to her as Katharine Wright in descriptions to reflect the time in her life when she was writing them.

The Wright State University Archives would like to make a special acknowledgment to Lois E. Walker for sharing her transcriptions of these letters.

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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Letter, September 5 to 7, 1925, Katharine Wright to My Dear, Dear, Boy [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, written over three days, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell upon her return to Lambert Island, Penetang, Ontario. She lets Henry know they have arrived, and tells him the story of how Orville injured his back a few days before. She describes her and Orville's trip to Marshallito Island and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, September 1 to 5, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, written over four days, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell as she travels from Marshallito Island to Lambert Island. She writes of her traveling and how "Stef" [Vilhjalmur Stefansson] is writing his autobiography, but mostly of she writes of how she misses Henry and fantasies about their future together.
Letter, August 31, 1925, Katharine Wright to Dear Harry, Dear [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Marshallito Island, Ontario, Canada. She describes the island and her daily life there.
Letter, August 25 to September 2, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry, Dear [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Marshall Island over a week. She talks about the regret she feels for the contents of a previous letter, her daily life on the island, her feelings regarding Henry, Orville, and their relationship, particularly focusing on their age as being part of the problem. She speaks of Henry's travel notes and her friends. It seems she spent several evenings playing roulette and mentions have herself, Orville and her companions filmed doing activities.
Letter, August 19 and 20, 1925, Katharine Wright to My Dearest [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, written over two days, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Marshall Lake. She talks about events happening on the lake, reminisces about the history her and Henry share and how she feels about him as well as some news about friends.
Letter, August 18, 1925, Katharine Wright to Dear, Dear Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Marshallito Island Camp. She talks about how much she is enjoying the camp and spending time with their friends there, but how she also misses Henry as well.
Letter, August 15, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Toronto to let Henry know they have arrived to the city and the address he can send his letters to.
Letter, August 14, 1925, Katharine Wright to Dear, Dear Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Penetang, Ontario. She talks about her daily life on the island, a speech Orville gave at an Oberlin College Alumni Dinner, and expresses how much she misses Henry.
Letter, August 11 to 13, 1925, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, written over three days, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Penetang, Ontario after he leaves from visiting them. She expresses her enjoyment of his visit. She goes on over the next few days to recount what she has been doing in her daily life and some updates of friends.
Letter, July 20 to 22, 1925, Katharine Wright to My Dear, Foolish Boy [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, written over three days, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Penetang, Ontario. She updates him about her time at Lambert Island, speaks of her uneasiness in front of a photography camera, her thoughts on marriage as well as her relationships with her brothers. She talks about her relationship with Henry and discusses their hopeful future together as well as his upcoming arrival to Lambert Island. She also discusses her thoughts and philosophy surrounding a William Watson poem, and her thoughts on Henry's travel notes in addition to other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, July 15 to 17, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, written over three days, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Penetang, Ontario. She updates him on how her and Orville's trip at Lambert is going and expresses worry for Henry's well-being and his career. She speaks more on her relationship with her brother, updates about friends, her growing feeling toward Henry, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, July 10 to 14, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, written over four days, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Penetang, Ontario. She talks of her arrival the day before and how her stay is going, updates about friends, her relationship with Henry, suggestions on how he may get to Lambert Island, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, July 6 to 8, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her preparations to go to Ontario. She talks about dinner with friends, her love for Henry and teasing him for his terrible spelling recently. She touches on mutual friends and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, July 4 to 6, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, written over three days, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her anxieties regarding the future and their relationship, a dinner party she attended with friends, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, July 3, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to talk about Henry's son, a cousin of Katharine's, her and Henry's relationship, Henry's friends in Missouri trying to entertain him, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, July 2, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry, dear [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to discuss travel plans to Ontario, some bits about the Smithsonian conflict, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, July 1, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to continue to discuss her feelings about him and the emotionally difficult situation she has found herself in. She goes on to distract herself with talking about business at Oberlin College, how she is looking forward to her trip to Ontario, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, June 29, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to discuss once more, her thoughts, feelings, and struggles with her affections for him and her loyalty to her brother. She also discusses travel plans to Ontario.
Letter, June 22, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her thoughts and emotions regarding their relationship and her relationship to her brother. She discusses Henry meeting her in Dayton while Orville is away in Washington D.C. later in the week.
Letter, June 20, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her and Orville's travel plans to Ontario, a funeral she attended, more on her thoughts and emotions regarding Henry, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, June 19, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to further parse out her thoughts and feelings on Henry's love for her and her growing affections for him.
Letter, June 18, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her internal struggle between the loyalty and obligation she feels to stay with her Orville and her growing affections for Henry.
Letter, June 16, 1925 , Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell and recounts the events of the past day as she tried to make it back to Dayton in time for their secret meeting, that Henry had to subsequently cancel. She goes into detail of her feelings for him and the complex situation of her loyalty and responsibility she feels toward Orville.
Letter, June 15, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell in response to a telegram he sent her. She expresses her heartache and implores him to come to Dayton so they may talk face-to-face.
Letter, Evening of June 13, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

This letter, sent from the Park Hotel in Oberlin, Ohio, was written on June 13, 1925, but sent on the 14th, after her previous letter on the 13th. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing how, despite her feelings for Henry - and his feelings for her - she does not feel like she could separate herself from Orville, both due to her emotional attachment to him and the responsibility she has taken on throughout his life.