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Howell Wright collection

 Collection
Call Number: MS 565

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, photographs, clippings, and printed material relating to the history of Rhodesia and South Africa, with specific focus on Jameson's Raid, 1895-1896, the Johannesburg Reform Committee, and Cecil John Rhodes.

Correspondence includes letters with numerous individuals active in the government and military forces in South Africa and Rhodesia, and with friends, relatives, and associates of those individuals. These letters were solicited by Wright and contain the reminiscences of and comments about such figures as: Frederick R. Burnham, Jack Carruthers, Louis Cohen, John Hays Hammond, J. B. M. Hertzog, Sir Leander Starr Jameson, Cecil Rhodes, George Bernhard Shaw, and Jan Christian Smuts.

The Howell Wright Collection is arranged in four series:

I. Correspondence, 1886-1954

II. Photographs, 1890-1902

III. Printed Material, 1900-1950

IV. Personal Papers, 1910-1953

Series I, Correspondence, contains the letters and other materials solicited by Howell Wright to document the history South Africa and Rhodesia, with a particular emphasis on the role of the British government and military forces in the late nineteenth century. Wright corresponded with many figures who held governmental and military positions in the region, and with relatives and associates of these individuals. These correspondents include men who served in the Pioneer Corps, and who were involved in the Bachuanaland Expedition, 1884-1888; Jameson's Raid, 1895-1896, and the Johannesburg Reform Committee.

Many correspondents, including Jack Carruthers, Charles Llewellyn Anderson, James Donaldson, and Sir Frederick Hamilton, provided lengthy personal reminiscences of their lives and experiences in South Africa. A variety of printed material, photographs, and newspaper clippings, often enclosed with these letters, adds another dimension to the lives of these people.

Series II, Photographs, 1892-1990, is arranged in two sections: Rhodes, Cecil John; and South Africa. Rhodes, Cecil John, contains two hundred and ninety (290) photographs of Cecil John Rhodes and the South African region. They are reproductions of items located in the Central African Archives.

The South Africa section contains photograph albums relating to such events as the South Africa War, 1899-1902, and the Tercentenary celebration of 1952.

Series III, Printed Material, ca. 1900-1950, contains a variety of publications collected by Howell Wright. Items include journals and journal articles relating to the history of South Africa and Rhodesia and publications written by Wright on topics such as municipal government and city policies.

Series IV, Personal Papers, 1910-1953, contains books, clippings, printed material, and miscellanea relating to Howell Wright, his family, the development of his collection of manuscripts and materials relating to South Africa and Rhodesia, and miscellanea.

Oversize consists of large printed material, documents, and items (including photostats) collected by Wright on individuals and organizations active in South Africa and Rhodesia.

Dates

  • 1868-1977

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to Yale University by Howell Wright, 1941. Transferred from the African Curator, 2005. Gift of Bradford Wright, 2008.

Arrangement

Arranged in four series and five additions: I. Correspondence, 1886-1954. II. Photographs, 1890-1902. III. Printed Material, 1900-1950. IV. Personal Papers, 1910-1953.

Extent

18.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.0565

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection consists of correspondence, photographs, clippings, and printed material relating to the history of Rhodesia and South Africa, with specific focus on Jameson's Raid, 1895-1896, the Johannesburg Reform Committee, and Cecil John Rhodes. Correspondence includes letters with numerous individuals active in the government and military forces in South Africa and Rhodesia, and with friends, relatives, and associates of those individuals. These letters were solicited by Wright and contain the reminiscences of and comments about such figures as: Frederick Russell Burnham, Jack Carruthers, Louis Cohen, John Hays Hammond, J. B. M. Hertzog, Sir Leander Starr Jameson, Cecil Rhodes, George Bernard Shaw, and Jan Christian Smuts.

Biographical / Historical

Howell Wright was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, on January 21, 1882. He graduated from Yale University (B.A., 1906) and served as a municipal official in Cleveland, Ohio, for several years. He collected books, manuscripts, and photographs on Rhodesia and South Africa until his death in 1954.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Howell Wright Collection
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by William E. Brown, Jr. and staff of Manuscripts and Archives
Date
February 1984
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/
Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours

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