LH. Local History

The Special Collections and Archives Departmental Records Collection contains the archival administrative files of the department, including program development files, collection records, publications, event and publicity files, and the various director’s subject files dating back to the beginning of the program. The collection contains only permanent historical records.

In 1974 the Public History Program was developed as a new graduate program in the History Department at Wright State University. The collection documents the growth and development of the program. It includes written histories of the program, administrative files, curriculum, classes, symposiums, capstone projects, exhibitions and alumni files.

The collection consists of video oral history interviews conducted with Wright State University students, primarily graduate students in the Public History concentration, as part of a History 7700: Local History course in Fall 2017. Students were asked a standard series of questions on topics such as why they chose Wright State University and what life has been like as a Wright State student. Each interview averages about 4.5 minutes in length.

The collection includes scrapbooks, photographs, clippings, program and activity information, and newsletters.

The collection consists of eight letters written by Katharine Wright, sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright, to her close friend, Agnes Beck. The letters discuss Wilbur and Orville Wright, their flights, the Wright Family, and other personal matters.

Aloys J. Wyen was an early aviation pioneer associated with the Wright Brothers, first in their bicycle shop in Dayton, and later at Huffman Prairie as a mechanic. He was with them at Belmont Park in 1910, then flew in Los Angeles, California from 1911-1916. He later worked as a mechanic with the WACO Aircraft Company in Troy, Ohio, and Aeronca in Middletown. His papers include family photographs as well as correspondence and photographs documenting his long career in aviation.

The collection consists newspaper clippings, primarily from the Springfield News-Sun and Dayton Daily News, concerning the devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on Xenia, Ohio, on April 3, 1974.

Consists of minute records book of a Xenia citizen’s committee opposed to the sale of alcoholic beverages between the years of 1901 and 1911.

Contains programs, articles, papers, and commencement materials for the Xenia Female College, dating between 1866 and 1873.

Contains Xenia's original petition for incorporation as well as photocopies of the document, dated 1817.