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, Undated #8, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated, and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 13, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to gush about her engagement / wedding ring and thank him for the photo he sent. She talks about going wedding dress shopping, and other aspects of their wedding and her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #50, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 11, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about articles she's read in The Star and her worry "about everything".
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Letter, Undated #46, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 10, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell telling him of her impatience for a friend of the Wrights to arrive and keep Orville company. She mentions a history textbook writer reached out to Orville for information which she hopes will help combat the issue with Langley, her potentially going to Kansas City within the week, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #51, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 9, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about the previous Board of Trustees meeting, having just received the minutes. She also touches on other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #52, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 8, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about internal politics of the Oberlin College Board of Trustees, her hesitancy to tell Orville when she is leaving for Kansas City, and other aspects of their daily lives.
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Letter, Undated #55, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 7, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about shopping for clothes, and the evolving search for a new President of Oberlin College.
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Letter, Undated #24, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 6, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about a variety of things including the Wrights' new drive being built, Oberlin's literary magazine, an article about New York, the Talley Fund, wall paper and home decorating, Alumni Trustee voting, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #57, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 5, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about decorating their martial home. She asks him to look up who made the increase in military defense in 1919, her opinion on Ed Howe, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #23 , Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 4, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell apologizing for her sporadic letter sending habits and talked about aspects of their daily lives.
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Letter, Undated #58, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 4, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell admonishing the management of the Committee she is on for canceling the meeting so last minute and relayed some conversations from a meeting the day before.
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Letter, Undated #22, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 1, 1926. Katharine Wright writes a very short letter to Henry Haskell letting him know she got his letter and she is on the train to Cleveland and unable to write anything longer.
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Letter, Undated #56, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on September 30, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her having to leave her trustee committees when she moves to Kansas City, asking Harry Edwards - a previous household employee of the Wrights - to come back to help Orville run the home, Louis Lord's terrible letter writing skills, her insistence that Orville give their brother a small automobile, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, September 29, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
Katharine Wright pens a love letter to Henry Haskell.
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Letter, Undated #41, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on September 29, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her anxiety for Orville to be alone.
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Letter, Undated #47, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on September 25, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about coming out to Kansas City to plan the house decorating and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, September 24, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her worry and anxiety surrounding Orville and setting up home in Kansas City.
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Letter, September 19, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her anxiety of telling Orville she will be marrying Henry and moving to Kansas City. She also asks after Henry's son, and mentions other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, September 18, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell mentioning Orville's drinking at events, Henry's editorial on a Kipling poem, and a new dress she purchased.
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Letter, Undated #48, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written sometime in September of 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing how distressed and worn out she is over Orville's reaction to their relationship and doesn't believe she could visit Kansas City without incident.
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Letter, Undated #49, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written sometime in September of 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to tell him she plans to talk to Lorin about her distress and visiting Kansas City and tells Henry she has ordered towels for their home.
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Letter, Undated #4, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated, and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on July 29, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Ontario. She commends the Kansas City Star for being a "many-sided paper", Henry's career, the weather, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, July 28, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Ontario. She talks to him about The Star, how she and Orville has spent their day, potentially inviting friends to join them on the island, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Evening of July 25, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
Katharine Wright pens a love letter to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Ontario.
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Letter, Undated #3, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
This letter is undated, and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on July 25, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Ontario. She tells him about her day, including fishing, swimming, and running into several children she is fond of in addition to other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, July 23, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from Lambert Island, Ontario. She tells him about her plans for the day, the weather, a friend's visit and other aspects of her daily life.
