Henry Stout, Wright Brothers Collection
Scope and Contents
The collection is focused on the Wright brothers and their invention of powered flight. It contains Stout’s handwritten notes highlighting dates and notable events in Wright brothers history. The collection also consists of Stout’s collected newspaper clippings, magazine articles, pamphlets on aviation and Wright brothers history, as well as scattered correspondence, and programs from events commemorating the Wright’s place in aviation history.
The collection is arranged into eight folders, with no apparent order. However, the collection is small and easily navigated. Of note is a piece of original fabric from the 1903 Flyer in folder 5; the program and a copy of Milton Wright’s remarks from the 1948 presentation ceremony of the 1903 Flyer at the Smithsonian in folder 6; and a 1950 letter from Mabel Beck to Henry Stout regarding her opinion of an advertisement featuring the Wright brothers in folder 4. Stout also included programs from special events, such as the 1954 Early Birds banquet program, and the 3rd Annual Aviation Hall of Fame Awards Program from 1964. The last folder contains Stout’s notes on the history of his church, the First Regular Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio.
Dates
- Creation: 1903-1973
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1948-1971
Creator
- Stout, Henry S., 1892-1976 (Person)
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 Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright.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
Henry Sanford Stout (1892-1976) was a life-long resident of Dayton, Ohio. As a teenager, he recalled bicycling to Huffman Prairie with friends to catch a glimpse of Wilbur and Orville Wright flying. Wilbur and Orville’s sister, Katharine Wright, was Henry Stout’s high school Latin teacher, and their nephew, Milton Wright, was a classmate of Henry’s. Given his history with the Wright family, Henry was an avid researcher of Wright history. He knew Orville Wright, Mabel Beck (Wright's secretary), Carrie Grumbach (Wright's housekeeper), and numerous members of the Wright Family.
Henry graduated from Denison University and followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a successful insurance agent. He celebrated 50 years as an underwriter in Dayton for John Hancock Mutual Life. From 1954-1958, Henry Stout served as Mayor of Dayton. He also served on the Dayton City Commission and the Dayton City Planning Board. Henry Stout was a member of First Baptist Church of Dayton.
Extent
0.25 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection includes clippings, articles, pamphlets, photographs, postcards, and correspondence pertaining to Orville and Wilbur Wright.
Arrangement
The collection is in its original order.
Other Finding Aids
The finding aid is available on the Wright State University Libraries' Special Collections and Archives web site at https://wright.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/resources/725.
The finding aid is also available in the OhioLINK Finding Aid Repository at http://ead.ohiolink.edu/xtf-ead/.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Mrs. Henry Stout donated the materials in this collection in January 1979.
Separated Materials
In 1979, the following items were relocated to MS-1 Wright Brothers Collection:
• A NCR Weekly broadside commemorating the death of Wilbur Wright, June 1, 1912.(WB-1, File 4)
• Photograph of the 1903 flight made from the original negative. The photograph was given to Henry Stout by Harold and Ivonette Miller (MS-1, Box 31, item 106).
• Two photographs (once framed) of Wilbur and Orville Wright (MS-1, Box 31, item 107 and 108)
The following books were separated from the collection, and cataloged for the reading room:
Boyd, Thomas A. Professional Amateur: The Biography of Charles Franklin Kettering. , 1957. Print. (TL140 .K4 B6)
Charnley, Mitchell V. The Boys Life of the Wright Brothers. New York: Harper, 1928. Print. (TL540 .W7 C4)
Flight, Fantasy, Faith, Fact: A Loan Exhibition Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of Powered Flight, 1903-1953. Dayton: Printing Service, Inc., 1953. Print. (N8217 .F6 D3)
Kelly, Fred C. (Fred Charters). The Wright Brothers: a biography authorized by Orville Wright. New York: Harcourt, Brace and company, 1943. Print. Autographed by Orville Wright, Fred Kelly, Benjamin Foulois, Frank P. Lahm, Grover Loening, James M. Cox, Walter Brookins and others; p. [1] has authenticated piece of wing fabric flown at Kitty Hawk, N.C., Dec. 17, 1903. (Aviation - TL 539 .W7 K4)
Villard, Henry S. Contact!: The Story of the Early Birds. New York: Crowell, 1968. Print. (TL670 .V5)
Wright, Orville. How We Invented the Airplane. New York: McKay, 1953. Print. (TL540 .W7 .A215)
Wright, Wilbur, and Orville Wright. Miracle at Kitty Hawk: The Letters of Wilbur and Orville Wright. New York: Farrar, Straus and Young, 1951. Print. (TL540 .W7 A23)
Subject
- Wright, Orville, 1871-1948 (Person)
- Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Henry Stout, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-71)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Susan Smith
- Date
- January 23, 1979
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2019 March: Finding aid revised according to DACS by Alyssa Stark and Toni Vanden Bos.
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
