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, May 7, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes a short letter to Henry Haskell expressing her surprise that he is visiting Washington D.C. and, subsequently, visiting Dayton.
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Letter, Evening of May 6 to 7, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright pens a love letter to Henry Haskell on Thursday May 6th, then continues recounting her week at Oberlin on the 7th. She describes Frannie Lord's rummage sale, dinner with Mr. Stetson, and some information on the honorary degree proposals.
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Letter, May 6, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her day and about the first half of her trip to Oberlin the past week, describing her trouble with the trip up there, visiting friends and colleagues, the L.L.S. meeting, and the Lords' rugs.
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Letter, May 5, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell, after returning to Dayton. She lets him know Orville had a good time at the Little Rock balloon races and gave him a short summary of the Council Committee of Appointments meeting with the promise to write more in the morning.
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Letter, May 4, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from the Lords' residence in Oberlin, Ohio. She tells him about her day, including her trip to Cleveland. She writes about issues with Faculty control and her contempt for the lack of respect some members have for the traditions of Oberlin.
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Letter, May 3, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from the Lords' residence in Oberlin, Ohio. She thanks Henry for sending her roses and Frannie Lord candy. She tells him about her days, including the L.L.S meeting she spoke at, Frannie hosting her society alumnae and present members, and her plans for the upcoming week.
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Letter, May 2, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes from the Lords' residence in Oberlin, Ohio, letting Henry Haskell know she did indeed skip church to write to him. She tells him about her evening, with a visit with Mr. Stetson after a dinner with the McLennans. She updates his about her fellow visiting companions and what is coming up in the next few days for her.
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Letter, Night of May 2, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell from the Lords' residence in Oberlin, Ohio in the very late hours of May 2nd into the very early morning hours of May 3rd. She tells him about her evening, including visiting graves of old professors and Henry's parents'. She also talked at length about the Lords' rugs.
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Letter, May 1, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes from the Lords' residence in Oberlin, Ohio to Henry Haskell about her day as a judge of the Alumni Parade. She tells him of a song one class sang that involved her, and other performances of other classes, and some aspects of the board of trustees.
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Letter, April 30, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her previous evening at Oberlin.
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Letter, Evening of April 30, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to tell him about her day in Oberlin, Ohio, including meeting with friends and some brief news of the going-ons of Oberlin College.
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Letter, April 29, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her visit to Oberlin, Ohio.
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Letter, April 27, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her plans for her upcoming trip to Oberlin, Orville's travel practices and work, her concern for her friend, her opinions on Sinclair Lewis, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Evening of April 27, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
Katharine Wright pens a love letter to Henry Haskell.
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Letter, April 26, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her travel plans to Oberlin, visits from friends, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Evening of April 26, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
Katharine Wright pens a love letter to Henry Haskell where she emphasizes that despite the money they have it doesn't effect her feelings about him.
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Letter, April 24, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to talk about buying a rung, Orville's meeting of the Advisory Committee and an Officer's use of a loophole in a system for extra pay for flying. She also discusses her trip to Oberlin, her invitation to give a speech at the L.L.S. Alumnae meeting, and a letter she received from a former student of hers.
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Letter, April 23, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her travel plans to Oberlin, her friend, Nan, and the slowly resolving situation at The Kansas City Star.
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Letter, April 22, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to update him on how her friends, Nan Pinneo and Anne McCormick are doing.
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Letter, Evening of April 22, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her disapproval for the behavior and ideals of some more liberal writers and activists of the time and "improved, modern lack of beliefs".
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Letter, Undated #1, 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 April 21, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about trying to find Sinclair Lewis's address in the paper, his coworkers and the worker buyout of the Kansas City Star, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, April 20, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about Nan's stay with her and general life situation, remembers the Gridiron Dinner of last year, and tells him about an article in the Mercury that has caught many young people's attention in the area.
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Letter, April 19, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about Mr. Kirkwood, Oriental rugs, his plans for the evening, and other aspects of their relationship and her daily life.
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Letter, Evening of April 18, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her day, her friend, Nan, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Morning of April 18, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her previous day with her friend Nan, travel plans, and other aspects of her daily life.
