Digital Durham

Browse Collection › Personal Papers › Richard Harvey Wright Collection › 67 records found
	Letter from Lucy W. Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, June 22, 1885 Lucy Wright Ball sends her brother Richard Harvey Wright advice on feeding his infant daughter, Mamie E. Wright. Richard had lost his wife, Mamie Exum Wright, in childbirth and his sister Nannie had assumed responsibility for his newborn daughter. Lucy includes a separate note for her sister Nannie Wright where she expresses her concern for her niece's health and tries to persuade her siblings to bring young Mamie to Greensboro. She offers to help secure a wet nurse for her infant niece and suggests hand feeding the baby with scalded milk and catnip tea.
	Letter from Lucy W. Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, August 1885 Lucy attempts to console her brother Richard Harvey Wright after the death of his wife, Mamie Exum Wright. She also discusses tensions in the tobacco industry between the Duke family and her brother.
	Letter from Lucy W. Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, September 19, 1885 Lucy shares news of her health with her brother Richard Harvey Wright and offers him advice on how to feed his baby daughter, Little May.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, September 25, 1887 McCord Wright Ball describes his life as a student at the University of North Carolina. He reports that he joined the University's Philanthropic Society and is studying the Isaac Pitman system of phonography [e.g. shorthand].
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, October 06, 1887 McCord Wright Ball (Class of 1891) requests $50.00 from his uncle Richard Harvey Wright for costs associated with his attendance at the University of North Carolina. McCord tries to justify his thrift by saying that he walked from Chapel Hill to Durham "to keep from paying a dollar round trip."
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, December 15, 1887 McCord Wright Ball (Class of 1891) provides his uncle, Richard, with an itemized statement of the costs to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including books, boarding, fees, washing, shoes, church, gym slippers, football, coal, and cigarettes.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, December 19, 1887 McCord Wright Ball thanks his uncle, Richard Wright, for his recent letter and check. He expresses his appreciation for the hardships Wright had shared in his letter and promises to do "the best I can with the privileges I have."
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, January 30, 1888 McCord Wright Ball (Class of 1891) requests $10.00 from his uncle Richard Harvey Wright to pay some of his costs at the University of North Carolina. McCord notes that he has been studying shorthand, but is unwilling to cut his expenses by sharing a room with another student.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, January 30, 1889 McCord Wright Ball (Class of 1891) expresses his surprise to learn that his uncle, Richard Harvey Wright, is traveling to Egypt on business. McCord asks for $10 to cover wood, washing, and society fees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, March 19, 1889 McCord Wright Ball (University of North Carolina,Class of 1891) addresses this letter to his uncle who is traveling in Egypt. McCord shares his plans to study French and German. He also includes a request for financial help so that he can pay his boarding costs.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, May 02, 1889 McCord Wright Ball(Class of 1891) acknowledges receipt of a check from his uncle Richard Harvey Wright and requests additional funds to pay his expenses. McCord tells Richard about his interest in learning to dance and mentions his own father's disapproval of dancing.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, August 20, 1889 McCord Wright Ball writes to his uncle, Richard Harvey Wright, about tuition costs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also shares family news.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, September 09, 1889 McCord Wright Ball tells his uncle, Richard Harvey Wright, about the cost of textbooks and describes the subjects he is taking at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, November 10, 1889 McCord Wright Ball tells his uncle, Richard Harvey Wright, about Methodist preacher Sam Jones, his money problems, and his medical expenses.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, July 16, 1890 In this letter to his uncle, McCord Wright Ball details some of his recent expenses associated with college life. He also discusses the medical remedies he purchased in an effort to recover from a bout of "grippe."
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, January 28, 1890 McCord Wright Ball updates his uncle, Richard Harvey Wright, who is in Manila, Philippines, with family news. McCord also discusses his experience with love and courtship, being sick with la Grippe, and his finances.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, June 22, 1890 McCord Wright Ball (Class of 1891) sends academic news to his uncle Richard Harvey Wright including information about the curriculum in his French and German classes. He also includes a list of the authors that he has read in his Latin classes. He closes the letter by sharing his aspirations to become a professor of modern languages.
	Letter from McCord Wright Ball to Richard Harvey Wright, July 15, 1890 McCord Wright Ball (Class of 1891) updates his uncle Richard Harvey Wright on his social life at the University of North Carolina and defends his spending habits. The letter includes a detailed listing of costs associated with dance lessons and German language instruction.
	Letter from Julian S. Carr to Richard Harvey Wright, August 06, 1890 Julian S. Carr, President of Durham Smoking Tobacco and Blackwell's Durham Tobacco Co., gives Richard Harvey Wright his vision to develop Durham and make more money.
	Letter from Julian Shakespeare Carr to Richard Harvey Wright, September 17, 1887 Julian Shakepeare Carr informs Richard Harvey Wright about his plan to establish a national bank in Durham and inquires whether Wright can offer commercial space for the enterprise.
	Letter from Mrs. W. J. Exum to Richard Harvey Wright, July 02, 1890 After losing his wife Mamie in childbirth, Richard Harvey Wright asked Mamie's relatives to convey the presents that the couple received to his daughter Little May.In the event of his daughter's death Richard stipulated that his wife's family return presents given by his friends and family.
	Letter from Charles M. Glenn to Richard Harvey Wright, August 13, 1890 Charles M. Glenn, a Greensboro pharmacist from Tate Brothers Wholesale Druggists, advises Richard Wright to take his ailing brother Thomas Wright to Buffalo Springs, Virginia where he could find a cure for his Gastro-Duodenal Catarrh or gall stones.
	Letter from A. Jacobi, M.D. to Richard Harvey Wright, September 14, 1887 Dr. A. Jacobi, a prominent New York pediatrician advises Richard Wright to bring Mamie, his ailing daughter, to New York for a diagnosis.
	Letter from W. M. Morgan to Richard Harvey Wright, April 04, 1889 William M. Morgan, who worked at the Eugene Morehead Bank, invites Richard Harvey Wright to join a new bank. He mentions the railroad and news about general store owner Atlas M. Rigsbee, John Markham, and tobacco dealers Stokes and Geer.
	Letter from William M. Morgan to Richard Harvey Wright, August 07, 1890 William M. Morgan expresses disappointment in Richard Harvey Wright's plans to settle in Lynchburg, Virginia, rather than Durham, North Carolina. In discussing the local economy, Morgan mentions Julian S. Carr's real estate scheme.
	Letter from A. T. Powell to Richard Harvey Wright, August 26, 1889 A. T. Powell, secretary and treasurer of the Lone Jack Cigarette Company in Lynchburg, Virginia sends sympathies to Richard Harvey Wright for Little May's death and confides that he also buried his first born.
	Letter from A. T. Powell to Richard Harvey Wright, January 18, 1889 A. T. Powell, secretary and treasurer of the Lone Jack Cigarette Company in Lynchburg, Virginia writes his general manager, Richard H. Wright that he has conducted an inquiry into the events that led to the death of Russell Candler, a child laborer. Powell reports further that the Coroner believes the accident could be attributed solely to the "carelessness" of the child.
	Letter from A. T. Powell to Richard Harvey Wright, January 17, 1889 A. T. Powell, secretary and treasurer of the Lone Jack Cigarette Company in Durham, North Carolina, describes a gruesome industrial accident that caused the death of a child in the Lynchburg cigarette factory. He notes that the Coroner called the death accidental.
	Letter from Robert I. Rogers to Richard Harvey Wright, February 04, 1889 Robert I. Rogers, the secretary and treasurer of Durham Land and Security Company, Rogers tells Richard about real estate prices and agricultural news in Durham.
	Letter from Robert I. Rogers to Richard Harvey Wright, May 23, 1889 Robert I. Rogers, secretary of the Durham Land & Security Co. writes Richard Harvey Wright about economic news in Durham. He reports on a legal dispute over rent with "our man French." He closes by encouraging Wright to start a cotton factory.
	Letter from Robert I. Rogers to Richard Harvey Wright, November 08, 1889 Robert I. Rogers shares news about real estate in Durham, the rise in tobacco prices and the upcoming meeting of Blackwell's creditors. He also comments on the smaller turn out for the evangelical preacher Sam Jones, who held his revival in Durham.
	Letter from Robert I. Rogers to Richard Harvey Wright, July 26, 1890 Robert Rogers, secretary and treasurer for Durham Land and Security, writes to Richard Harvey Wright about the renewal of the graded school contracts. He states that William Guthrie authorized the contract.
	Letter from Annie E. Snow to Richard Harvey Wright, June 25, 1885 Annie E. Snow sends her brother-in-law Richard H. Wright nutritional advice for his baby daughter. She tells Richard she has been in poor health and cannot consider travel. She recollects her sister's death in childbirth and lauds Richard's efforts to keep his infant daughter alive.
	Letter from Annie E. Snow to Richard Harvey Wright, January 07, 1886 Annie E. Snow writes her brother-in-law Richard H. Wright about the difficulties she encounters with Mr. Linthicum who she hired to move and beautify the grave of Richard H. Wright's deceased wife, Mamie Exum Wright. She also thanks Richard for sending her a crayon drawing of her sister Mamie.
	Letter from Annie E. Snow to Richard Harvey Wright, March 10, 1886 Annie E. Snow writes her brother-in-law, Richard Harvey Wright, with suggestions about selecting appropriate monuments for the grave of his deceased wife, Mamie Exum Wright.
	Letter from Annie E. Snow to Richard Harvey Wright, May 13, 1886 Annie E. Snow gives a report to her brother-in-law Richard H. Wright about her health after the birth of her son, Horace Snow. Annie approves Richard's selection of the monument, inscription, and verse for the grave of Richard's deceased wife, Mamie Exum Wright.
	Letter from Annie E. Snow to Richard Harvey Wright, October 01, 1889 Annie E. Snow shares family news with her brother-in-law Richard H. Wright. She also describes her meeting with the Methodist preacher Sam Jones, William T. Blackwell's bankruptcy and Julian S. Carr's travels.
	Letter from James Southgate to Richard Harvey Wright, June 11, 1886 James Southgate asks Richard Harvey Wright for his support of Prohibition in Durham, North Carolina.
	Letter from S. F. Tomlinson to Richard Harvey Wright, August 20, 1887 In his role as secretary of the School Committee of the Town of Durham, S.F. Tomlinson writes Richard Wright about renting the "Graded School building" in Durham, North Carolina, for one year. Tomlinson requests that the contract start in September 1887 and be renewable for up to three years at $500 per year.
	Letter from Jacob L. Watkins to Richard Harvey Wright, August 28, 1890 Jacob Lawrence Watkins, President of Durham Bobbin and Shuttle Mill, responds to Richard Harvey Wright's letter inquiring about the selling of the company to a syndicate. Watkins believes that a trust or syndicate could benefit his business.
	Letter from John T. Wightman to Richard Harvey Wright, January 03, 1888 Baltimore clergyman, John T. Wightman, expresses his disapproval about the photographs packaged in cigarette boxes and the evil the cigarette cards are doing to youth. Wightman begs Richard Harvey Wright to end the packaging of "vile pictures" in Lone Jack cigarettes.
	Letter from Nannie Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, September 12, 1889 Writing from Buffalo Station, Virginia, Nannie Wright describes her feelings of loss to her brother Richard Harvey Wright as she mourns the loss of her niece, Richard's daughter, "Little May.
	Letter from Richard Harvey Wright to Thomas D. Wright, May 09, 1887 With anticipation of rising prices of tobacco cutters, Richard Wright advises his brother Thomas Wright to buy out Reed & McGees tobacco stock. In sharing family news, Richard writes that his daughter "Little May is I think improving."
	Letter from Richard Harvey Wright to Thomas D. Wright, May 22, 1887 In this letter, Richard discusses the conditions of the tobacco crop and chastizes his brother for not heeding his previous advice to buy out "R & G on best terms you can."
	Letter from Richard Harvey Wright to Thomas D. Wright, July 18, 1887 Writing on Lone Jack Cigarette Company stationary, Richard Harvey Wright directs his brother, Thomas, how to prize, package, and ship tobacco for the Charles Watkins & Company.
	Letter from Richard Harvey Wright to George W. Moore, Jr., January 19, 1889 Richard Harvey Wright asks George Moore,Jr. to cease selling shares relating to his Bonsack machine enterprise. Wright explains "it is good stock & no machine yet made or under way can compete with it."
	Letter from Richard Harvey Wright to D.B. Strouse, April 19, 1889 Richard Harvey Wright sends a report to D. B. Strouse, President of the Bonsack Machine Company in which he describes his recent conversations with E. J. Manuk, a British subject and tobacco merchant living in Egypt. Wright explains the terms of the contract that will enable Manuk to use the Bonsack machine for cigarette production.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, April 26, 1886 Thomas D. Wright describes an altercation and "fight" between two women and the public's response to Mr. Blackwell's sudden departure to Raleigh.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, November 19, 1886 Thomas Wright seeks advice from his brother, Richard Harvey Wright, on a business proposal offered by Thomas Cozart. Mr. Cozart wants to buy and deliver 10000 lbs of "old smokers," but lacks cash. Cozart offers the Wright Brothers half of the profits if they will contribute cash. Thomas mentions a fire that burnt an entire block between Mangum and Church streets and nearly reached the Methodist church.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, February 07, 1887 Thomas shares family news. Nannie Wright will take Richard's daughter, Little May to visit with Annie Snow. Little May seems "bright and playful this morning." Thomas thanks his brother for sending medicines and notes that the current illness has left him confined to his bed. Thomas asks his brother for advice on purchasing real estate from Tilley.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, July 21, 1887 Thomas blends family and business news in this letter to his brother, Richard Harvey Wright. He has just shipped roughly 20,000 pounds of tobacco to one customer. He tells Richard that his daughter May is sick and expresses hope that she will feel well by fall. He describes his own daughter who had also been ill as plump and teething.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, August 11, 1887 Thomas Wright highlights notable developments in the tobacco market; E. J. Parrish has announced his plans to rebuild his tobacco warehouse. Thomas also shares family news: Richard's daughter, Little May is improving. Thomas also comments on his own health.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, September 29, 1887 Thomas D. Wright acknowledges a letter from his brother, Richard Harvey Wright. Thomas notes that public concerns about frost damage on tobacco plants in North Carolina seem unwarranted. He believes this is the best crop of tobacco since the Civil War. He discusses real estate developments and the cost of land being sold by Tilly near Alston Avenue. Thomas closes with an update on the construction of Richard's new home.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, October 03, 1887 Thomas expresses concern for Richard's daughter, Little May, who is ill. He updates his brother on the work that Linthicum is doing to build a house for Richard Harvey Wright. He also notes that a new Building and Loan Association plans to build homes on property east of Alston Avenue.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, December 6, 1887 In this letter to his brother Richard, Thomas Wright, proprietor of the tobacco brokerage T. D. Wright and Company, shares the challenges which he faces in the tobacco market. He also notes that Mrs. Stokes lost both of her conjoined twins after their birth.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, January 09, 1888 Thomas Wright has a gloomy outlook on his upcoming trip to Richmond in an effort to procure more tobacco. He thinks it's folly for a man to speculate in tobacco unless he has $25,000 in capital. He wants to try a different approach but needs advice and cash from his brother, Richard Harvey Wright. He asks Richard to consider helping him purchase land from Tilly.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, January 16, 1888 Thomas Wright tells his brother, Richard Harvey Wright, about his inability to sell his firm's tobacco in the Richmond market. Thomas observes that Durham-grown tobacco costs 25% more than the tobacco offered by Richmond tobacco brokers.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, January 18, 1889 Thomas gives quick report of the Durham mill executives and their travels. He also reports that Richard's daughter Mamie (sometimes described as Little May) is recovering from mumps.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, January 24, 1889 Thomas D. Wright updates his brother, Richard Harvey Wright, on Durham business news and the health of Mamie Richard's daughter. The child has just recovered from mumps.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, March 20, 1889 Thomas D. Wright updates his brother, Richard Harvey Wright, Vice-President of Durham Bobbin and Shuttle Mill, on business affairs. Thomas comments that the Farmer's Alliance rented the old Reams warehouse and states that there may be a shoe factory in Durham. Eugene Morehead, a banker from Durham, died in Savannah, Georgia.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, April 16, 1889 Thomas Wright reports on the fiscal situation of the Durham Bobbin & Shuttle Mills Co.:" Expenses up to this time are greatly in excess of out put [sic] of work." He also notes that Dr. Carr is treating Richard's daughter Little May with electricity.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, April 29, 1889 Thomas Wright shares a detailed report of the Durham Bobbin & Shuttle Mills's accounts and operations with his brother Richard Wright.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, October 31, 1889 Thomas D. Wright shares details of the Durham Bobbin and Shuttle Mill's sales report and the condition of its 40 employees. He refers to Tom Jones's death, to religion, and to a visit from Methodist preacher Sam Jones.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, February 11, 1890 Thomas Wright shares tobacco market news with his brother, Richard Harvey Wright. He notes that conditions are not favorable for buying tobacco on speculation as tobacco prices are "very high." Thomas also shares his plan for buying land from "old man Tilley" to make a new home for his family.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, May 09, 1890 Thomas D. Wright acknowledges receiving Richard's letter from Hong Kong. He sends a detailed report about the fiscal situation at the Durham Bobbin and Shuttle Mill. He notes also that "Trinity College will be moved to Durham. Will locate the college, in Blackwell's Park, arrangements are now being made to commence building. Most people think Durham is on the eave of a big boom."
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, June 27, 1890 Thomas D. Wright, updates his brother, Richard Harvey Wright, on the fiscal situation at the Durham Bobbin and Shuttle Company. He also describes the emergence of new business ventures in Durham--The Farmers' Alliance tobacco plug factory and general excitement about a possible future cotton factory.
	Letter from Thomas D. Wright to Richard Harvey Wright, July 24, 1890 Thomas Wright explains that the presents of silver have been sent to Mrs. Annie E. Snow and she is expected to forward to Mrs. Edmundson.He also discusses orders at the Durham Bobbin and Shuttle Co.

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