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, February 5, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about the internal politics of Oberlin college, their future together, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Evening of February 4, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her day, explaining why her last letter was so short, when she get interrupted by a visit from a friend. Once she resumes writing she tells Henry about the visit, about her friend and discusses in some length her opinions of new versus "old-fashioned" religions and their ministers.
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Letter, February 4, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes a very short letter to Henry Haskell letting him know she plans to write a longer letter later in the day.
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Letter, February 1, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about a business deal a Mr. Deeds approached Orville about as well as other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, January 31, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her admiration and love for him, several books she has been reading, and about their friend, Stef [Vilhjalmur Stefansson]
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Letter, January 30, 1926 and Undated Attachment, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about his son, how much about how she loves Henry, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, January 28, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell imagining what was happening at the party he was hosting at the time she was writing. She tells him of the lack of skill of their recently hired cook, a bit more about Lou Warner's visit, pay issues Louis Lord was having as faculty at Oberlin, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, January 21 to 22, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about Lou Warner's visit, "Coolidge" by William Allen White, her advertisement for a cook, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Evening of January 19, 1926 and Undated Attachment, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expanding on her mailbox whiskey situation, how much she misses Henry, the temptation of January retail sales, her potential money investments, planning for their future shared home, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, January 19, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright tells Henry Haskell she wanted to talk to Orville about their relationship, but couldn't bring herself to. She goes on to tell him about two packaged bottles marked "Whiskey" she found in her mailbox, admonishing whoever did so for their disregard of the law.
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Letter, January 17, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about some car trouble she had, her opinion on who was responsible for World War I in response to a New Republic article on the topic, a book she is re-reading, which includes a chapter by Henry, her love and emotions for him, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, January 16, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell. She updates him on how the Wrights' maid, Carrie, is doing with the illness of her father. She continues to tell him of new information she has learned about the previous functioning of Oberlin College, her disillusionment with her academic idols from the college, and other thoughts about happenings and individuals at Oberlin. She includes her thoughts on her spending habits, a review of Henry's work, and aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, January 15, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright takes part in the new year tradition of misdating letters with the previous year. While this letter is dated 1925 by her, it has been determined this letter was actually written in 1926. Katharine writes of Henry's idealistic tendencies, a book she is reading, and reminisces about her time in Europe, and about their relationship and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, January 14, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell ruminating on the internal conflict their relationship is causing her.
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Letter, January 13, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell reminiscing about the Curtiss suit, some thoughts on the Great War, and recounts her errands for the day.
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Letter, January 12, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell wishing she was as sure of going forward with their relationship as he was, their feelings for each other, and their future together. She also includes updates about friends' lives, a large donation by Daniel Guggenheim to create a foundation in the interest of aeronautics, her and Orville's dentist appointments, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, January 11, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright takes part in the new year tradition of misdating letters with the previous year. While this letter is dated 1925 by her, it has been determined this letter was actually written in 1926. She writes to Henry Haskell about a review of Henry's writing on Kansas City, plans for their financial future together, their feelings for each other, and aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, February 2, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her thoughts on an album of photos of one of Henry's homes, figuring out how she might decorate the house.
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Letter, Evening of February 1, 1926, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell reminiscing about their college years and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, December 21, 1925, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell complimenting him on his party planning abilities, what to request for wedding presents, a description of her cousin Emma Dennis's life, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, December 20, 1925, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell after returning from her cousin's funeral in Richmond. She expresses her excitement in seeing Henry in a few days, discussed some aspects of Christmas dinner, and spoke about aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, December 19, 1925, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
Katharine Wright pens a very short letter to Henry Haskell to let him know that she is going to be going to Richmond to comfort and support her cousin, Emma, who's brother had very recently passed.
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Letter, December 18, 1925, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell, telling him of her day's errands and plans, Henry's health and their future, and Orville's charity.
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Letter, Evening of December 18, 1925, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing discomfort from her dentist visit, describing her Christmas shopping, and expressing her excitement that Henry will be visiting in a week. She also mentions a cousin, Emma, who sent a telegram to alert Katharine of Emma's brother's death. Katharine also includes other details of her daily life.
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Letter, December 17, 1925, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her disillusionment with professor Louis Lord and President King staying in his position. She expresses her excitement at Henry's visit and her anxiety about Orville's potential reaction to their relationship. She discusses some of the news and telegrams Orville received for the 22nd anniversary of the first flight and touches on other aspects of her daily life.
