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, June 13, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, sent from the Park Hotel in Oberlin, Ohio, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing heartache at the situation between them.
Letter, June 11, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, sent from the Park Hotel in Oberlin, Ohio, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell imploring him to let her know why he seems upset at her and offering assurances she never meant to offend him or seem as if she did not want to hear of things troubling him.
Letter, June 10, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her excitement at receiving Henry's photograph, giving Henry more information and thoughts on the unfolding Smithsonian conflict, her upcoming trip to Oberlin College, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, June 8, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell apologizing for the stress a previous letter caused. She goes on to talk about receiving and sending photographs of each other, the nature of friendship later in life, reminiscing about a previous visit to the Haskell household, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, June 7, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to tell him of a magazine article she and Orville were considering to write regarding how different people contributed to the work of flight and the different kinds of work Wilbur and Orville contributed to the science of flight in response to the Smithsonian conflict. She writes of her upcoming trip to Oberlin for the academic procession and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, June 5, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell continues to discuss Orville's aversion to writing, a bit of how Orville's and Wilbur's minds worked and the lawsuit trials. She touches on the ongoing Smithsonian conflict, empathizes with Henry's inability to enjoy his free time and speaks of other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, June 3, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her anxieties of not being understood by him in her writings and relief that her meaning wasn't taken in a bad way. She also includes other details of her daily life.
Letter, June 1, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell discussing Orville's aversion to writing about his and his brother's invention, especially with the stress of the Smithsonian conflict as well as discussing the conflict itself and her thoughts of it in addition to writing about other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 31, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about the departure of some friends, the proposed faculty changes that will be discussed at the next Oberlin College Board of Trustees meeting in which she expresses doubt that a new female professor is getting adequate compensation, and shares more information regarding the unfolding Smithsonian conflict. She speaks of family she has in Kansas, expresses sympathy for Henry's son moving away, and touches on other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 29, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her visit to Oberlin College and to a friend's daughter's graduation, and expresses worry for Henry's loneliness and his opinion of her touching on the subject at all as well as other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 26, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her travel plans and her friends, particularly about missing her college friends, and several paragraphs trying to convince Henry to join her and Orville at the Bay [Penetang, Ontario, Canada].
Letter, May 23, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to discuss his life, including Katharine's anxieties about Henry, particularly that he may feel pressured to act because of misunderstanding his intentions in friendship. She also touches on aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 21, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about Orville's visit to Washington D.C. where he went to the Bureau of Standards, some more information about the unfolding Smithsonian conflict, her opinion on some writers compared to Henry, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 18, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about two articles, one written by Haskell and the other a story about Wilbur and Orville Wright, a bit about the Wright parents, more on the continuing conflict with the Smithsonian, and a meeting with Robert Small. She touches on aging, giving advice, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 14, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about the possibility of a Congressional investigation into the Smithsonian controversy as well as updates on the issue, a meeting Orville had with Senator Wills, and other aspects of her daily life. In this letter Katharine also touches upon the stress and trouble mind Orville has had since the plane crash at Fort Myer added onto by Wilber Wright's death a few years later.
Letter, May 13, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing worry and concern for his loneliness at the time and updates him on the Smithsonian situation as well as other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 11, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell regarding the errors in Langley's work, about the continued fight with the Smithsonian, and includes other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 8, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

This letter was written on may 8th and May 9th of 1925. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about Oberlin College business, expresses her worry for Henry's loneliness, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, May 6, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about the newly started fight between the Wrights and the Smithsonian regarding who had the first flying machine, an upcoming Board of Trustees meeting at Oberlin College, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, April 4, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes a love letter to Henry Haskell responding to a letter and flowers he had sent her that day and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, March 5, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about his upcoming birthday, a recent book she read - "The Divine Lady", the visit of Hart Berg and her opinions of him, her viewing the departure of the King of Spain from the hotel where they had dinner, politics, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, February 27, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her trip to Oberlin College, particularly of her advocating for Louis Lord to keep his position at the college and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, February 14, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about a cancelled trip to Oberlin College due to health and comments on Henry's visit to the college as well as visits from friends and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, January 5, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about a scarf Henry gifted her, memories brought on by winter trees, the playwright Moliere, issues going on at Oberlin College, and other aspects of her daily life.
Letter, December 31, 1924 to January 1, 1925, Katharine Wright to Harry [Henry J. Haskell]

Katharine Wright Haskell

This letter was written on December 31, 1924 and continued on January 1, 1925.

In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her conversational ability, an article she read, and Henry's son's travels in Europe and other aspects of her daily life.