48th Anniversary Observance man’s first successful powered flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright, program, 1951 December 17

Series I, Scrapbook consists of one scrapbook containing mainly newspaper clippings chronicling Ellis Wright’s visit to Kitty Hawk to participate in the 46th anniversary of flight events at the Kitty Hawk Post Office, Wright Memorial, and at the Hotel Carolinian. The news articles contain interviews with Ellis Wright and photographs of various events he attended. The scrapbook also contains news clippings of the 48th anniversary of flight in 1951 and the 50th anniversary of flight at Kitty Hawk in 1953. There are three original black and white photos in the album: one of Ellis Wright taken in Elizabeth City, N.C. in December, 1949, most likely at the home of Wilbur and Mary Reeder; and two exterior shots of Hawthorn Hill, probably sent to him by Orville Wright. The album also contains programs, menus, and numerous first day of issue Wright Brothers stamps on envelopes. There is one letter from Jack Williams to Wilbur Reeder, dated February, 1963. The letter describes his attendance at the presentation of the 1903 Flyer to the Smithsonian. The scrapbook also contains three publications: one of which is Collier’s magazine dated December 25, 1949. The cover is a side portrait of Wilbur and Orville Wright and the feature story is “The Story of American Aviation.” The second publication is the Tarheel Postmaster, November and December, 1949. These contain articles on Ellis Wright’s visit and also First Day Covers of Wright Brothers stamps. The third publication is the March, 1953 issue of Hiller Copter-News published by the Manufacturers of Hiller Helicopters. It contains an article on Frank Coffyn who was one of the Wright Brothers’ exhibition pilots.