Winter, W.H., Lavalette & Co. Mechanical Engineers, undated

The Wright Brothers Collection housed in Special Collections and Archives in the Wright State University Libraries is one of the most complete collections of Wright material in the world. It includes the Wrights' own technical and personal library, family papers including letters, diaries, financial records, genealogical files, and other documents detailing the lives and work of Wilbur and Orville Wright and the Wright Family. It also includes awards, certificates, medals, albums, recordings, and technical drawings. Perhaps the most valuable part of the collection are the thousands of photographs documenting the invention of the airplane and the lives of the Wright Family.

The online collection inventory is divided into seven sections for ease of use. Part I, Technical Library, contains an extensive list of the books and published materials in the collection which came from the Wright family's own technical and personal library. Part II, Manuscripts, includes personal and family papers, financial records, diaries, genealogical files, letters, and other documents. Part III, Photographs, is an item level listing of the thousands of photographs contained in this collection. More than 2200 of these images are available for searchable viewing in CORE Scholar, our Campus Online Repository. Part IV, Albums, includes a variety of photograph albums which document the Wright family as well as the development of the airplane. Part V, Phonograph Records and Film, contains several recordings and films. Part VI, Awards and Certificates, documents the variety of these items presented to the Wright Brothers. Part VII, Medals, describes each of the medals in the collection, some of which are available for viewing in the Archives reading room.

Part 1: Technical Library, contains an extensive list of the books and published materials in the collection which came from the Wright family's own technical and personal library.

Part 2: Manuscripts, includes personal and family papers, financial records, diaries, genealogical files, letters, and other documents.

Part 3: Photographs, is a listing of the photographs in the collection. To view the actual images in a searchable database, please use CORE Scholar.

Part 4: Albums, contains a variety of photograph albums documenting the Wright family as well as the development of the airplane.

Part 5: Phonograph Records and Film, includes several recordings and films.

Part 6: Awards and Certificates, documents the variety of awards, certificates, and other materials presented to the Wright Brothers.

Part 7: Medals, includes detailed descriptions of the medals awarded to the Wright Brothers.