Wright Family to Petree Family Correspondence

Series I, Correspondence, contains letters written by Milton Wright to Estella Harris Petree spanning the years 1900 to 1917. Milton’s letters describe the activities of his children and their families, including references to Wilbur and Orville Wright’s bicycle business, flying experiments and fame. Of special interest is a letter in which Milton describes Orville’s injuries following the accident at Ft. Myer, Virginia, in 1908 in which his passenger, Lt. Selfridge was killed. Milton also comments on his own flight with Orville Wright at Huffman Prairie in Dayton in May 1910. There is also a mention of the 1913 Dayton flood. Another item of interest is a handwritten biographical sketch of Sarah Wright Harris, prepared by Milton Wright and sent to his niece. A letter from Reuchlin to his cousin Estella in April 1917 provides a detailed description of Milton Wright’s death on April 3, 1917. There are two additional pieces, a telegram notifying the Petree family of Milton’s death, April 3, 1917 and an acknowledgement of sympathy card from Orville Wright. The card has a handwritten note by Katharine Wright, the Wright Brothers’ younger sister.

Series II, Photographs, contains two photographs mounted on gray cardstock. Their origin appears to be from a publication, as they are not printed on photographic paper, but on regular paper or print. The photos are a portrait of Milton Wright and a photograph of Wilbur and Orville Wright walking down the steps of a building. Neither photograph is dated.

Transcripts of the correspondence are included at the end of the collection.