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.