Frank Hamburger Papers (SC-36)
Scope and Contents
The collection contains materials about Frank Hamburger, a witness to some of the Wright Brothers’ early flights. The collection covers aspects of Hamburger’s family and business, as well as about the Wright Brothers. Personal material includes photographs of Hamburger’s daughters, as well as images of the hardware shop he owned. Material related to the Wright Brothers includes a photo of Hamburger at the 1909 Wright Brothers celebration. There is a brief series of letters in which Hamburger was asked to testify that the Wrights flew a heavier-than-air machine before Frenchman Henry Farman. Finally, there is a set of newspaper clippings, several of which pertain to Hamburger’s relationship with the Wright family, and another which describes the story of Charlotte “Lottie” Jones, a washerwoman who worked for the Wrights.
Dates
- Creation: 1909 - 1936
Creator
- Hamburger, Frank, 1864-1937 (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials are predominantly in English, with one postcard captioned in German
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on accessing material in this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Frank Hamburger witnessed the Wright Brothers' first flight in Dayton. Hamburger owned a hardware store, and assisted Wilbur and Orville Wright in obtaining equipment needed for their planes. Hamburger and his wife, Blanche, had three daughters: Ruth, Katherine, and Elizabeth.
Extent
0.1 linear feet
Abstract
Frank Hamburger witnessed the Wright Brothers' first flight in Dayton. Collection contains several photographs of Hamburger as well as newspaper clippings recounting his involvement with the Wrights.
Arrangement
Material about Frank Hamburger’s family and business is first in the collection. Material about the Wright Brothers, including Hamburger’s relationship with the Wrights, is next. Material is arranged chronologically within these groups. Original copies of newspaper articles appear at the end of the collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries, around 1978, by Frank Hamburger’s daughter, Elizabeth Hamburger.
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection contains preservation photocopies of four newspaper articles. The originals are housed in envelopes within the collection.
Processing Information
Dates were added to photocopied news clippings in pencil.
Subject
- Hamburger, Frank, 1864-1937 (Person)
- Wright, Orville, 1871-1948 (Person)
- Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912 (Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Frank Hamburger Papers (SC-36)
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2022 June 24
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092
library-archives@wright.edu
