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 #36, 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 November 13, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about their wedding and Orville's lack of participation and her anxiety surrounding that.
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Letter, Undated #19, 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 November 12, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell describing her trip home from St. Louis. She touches on her wedding, setting the date and asking Henry to write to President King about officiating. She also talks about decorating their home and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #27, 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 November 10, 1926. Katharine Wright writes a short letter to Henry Haskell letting him know she loves him and is unable to write him anything longer.
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Letter, Undated #45, 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 November 8, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing how hard Orville's rejection of their relationship is and how she cannot come to Kansas City at the time of writing because of how distraught she is.
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Letter, Undated #9, 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 November 4, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her excitement to going to Kansas City and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #14, 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 November 2, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her friend, her anxiety about moving to Kansas City, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #13, 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 November 1, 1926. Katharine Wright pens a short love letter to Henry Haskell.
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Letter, Undated #15, Katharine Wright to Henry J. Haskell
Katharine Wright Haskell
In this letter, This letter is undated and unattached to any other letter, but is believed to have been written on October 31, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about shopping for their marital home décor in New York and other aspects of their daily life.
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Letter, Undated #44, 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 30, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her exhaustion with visitors, the death of Oberlin College President King's son - Harold King, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #11, 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 28, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell assuring him that she loves him despite her anxiety surrounding Orville. She describes her Lou's visit and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #6, 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 28, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell mentioning the drive they are putting in, how some of her friends and family are reacting to her relationship with Henry, and details of setting up their house.
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Letter, Undated #12, 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 27, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell describing her day to him, commenting about articles she has read, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #18, 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 26, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell opening with a declaration against the weather in Dayton. She touches on some legal trouble the Kansas City Star is having, a dinner she and Orville attended in honor of General Gillmore's promotion to head of Wright Field that had too much drinking for her taste, her continued depression in the wake of Orville's rejection of their marriage, and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #10, 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 25, 1926. Katharine Wright writes a short letter to Henry Haskell about her day.
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Letter, Undated #17, 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 25, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell assuring him that she will be in Kansas City soon. She talks about perhaps doing wall paper in their marital home before she arrives, her plans for the near future - including going to a Michigan State game at Columbus and heading to Oberlin - and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #7, 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 24, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell telling him of a trip with Lou to Groveport.
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Letter, Undated #5, 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 23, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell addressing his stress over his wedding to Katharine and details of the wedding. She reports how well the women in her life are supporting her, and upcoming game, and mentions Mr. Kirkwood's contribution to Kansas City's Charities Chest.
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Letter, Undated #43, 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 22, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell to tell him the Lords have visited.
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Letter, Undated #42, 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 21, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell. She tells him of her friends coming to stay with her and Orville, and laments about how difficult it can be to get a man to stay for more than a day in their day and age. She mentions how hard it is for her to discuss things with Orville now and fears how unhappy the rest of her family will be at her decision.
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Letter, Undated #16, 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 19, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her daily life, telling him she will talk to Lorin when Orville leaves the next day, updating Henry about how Lou's visit is going, and assuring him his letter wasn't badly received at all.
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Letter, Undated #26, 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 19, 1926. In this letter, Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her continued distress about Orville's reaction to their relationship, a telephone call from the Lords, her new dress, and some issues with the stock of the Kansas City Star in addition to other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #21, 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 17, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell expressing her anxiety of Orville's rejection of their marriage and Lorin Wright's reaction as well, reflecting on her place in the family and other aspects of her daily life.
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Letter, Undated #54, 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 16, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell commending him for his speech to the Kansas University students, expresses her displeasure at reading anything but Scripture at funerals, and continues to agonize over her broken relationship with Orville and her indecision whether she should go to Kansas City.
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Letter, Undated #25, 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 15, 1926. Katharine Wright writes a short letter to Henry Haskell expressing how distressed she is about Orville's rejection of their relationship and her having to tell him she is leaving.
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Letter, Undated #53, 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 14, 1926. Katharine Wright writes to Henry Haskell about her distress for how Orville is reacting to their relationship. She also writes about sending a letter to Henry's brother, updates about friends, and other aspects of her daily life.
