Katharine Wright
Encyclopedia
Katharine Wright Haskell (August 19, 1874 – March 3, 1929) was the only sister of aviation
pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright
. She was a high school teacher and later became an international celebrity when she accompanied her famous brothers in Europe.
and Susan Koerner. She was especially close to Wilbur and Orville
, and when their mother died in 1889, she took over the responsibility for the household.
She graduated from Oberlin College
in 1896. She then took a position at Steele High School in Dayton, Ohio
. To help with the household chores, she hired a maid, Carrie Kayler, who remained with the family for decades.
When Wilbur and Orville began spending time away from home at Kitty Hawk and later in Europe and Washington, D.C., Katharine constantly wrote to them, keeping them abreast of family and hometown news. She sometimes scolded them when they didn't regularly send correspondence, and warned them of 'distractions' when in Europe
.
In 1908, after nearly three years of trying, the brothers convinced the U.S. Signal Corps to allow them to test their Flyer
for possible sale to the government. Orville was the pilot for the demonstrations. After a week of successful and record breaking flights, disaster struck on September 17, 1908. A broken propeller sent the airplane out of control. The crash killed the passenger, Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge, and seriously injured Orville, who suffered broken ribs and a broken leg. Katharine immediately went to his bedside at an Army Hospital in northern Virginia, and rarely left his room during Orville's seven week recuperation. She took emergency leave from her teaching job and was never to return.
with Orville, and in 1909 they joined him in Pau. She quickly dominated the social scene, being far more outgoing and charming than the notoriously shy brothers
. French
newspapers were fascinated by what they saw as the human side of the Wrights. Rumors began to circulate as to Katharine's importance in the invention of the Wright Flyer
. Some myths—such as her funding of the experiments, or sewing the wing coverings or help with math needed to design the aeroplane--lived on, despite strenuous denials by her and the brothers at the time. She was awarded, along with Wilbur and Orville, the Legion d'honneur
, making her one of the only women from the U.S. to receive it.
When they returned to Dayton, Ohio
, all three siblings were huge celebrities, and Katharine took on business responsibilities, becoming an officer of the Wright Company
in 1912 after Wilbur died. The company was sold in 1915 by Orville.
, a newly-constructed mansion in the Dayton suburb of Oakwood. Orville became increasingly dependent on Katharine. She looked after his social schedule, correspondence and business engagements along with his secretary, Mabel Beck, and ran the household as before.
. They began a romance through their letters, but Katharine feared Orville's reaction. After several attempts, Henry broke the news to Orville. He was devastated, and stopped speaking to his sister.
Katharine wed in 1926. Orville refused to attend the ceremony. Katharine and her husband moved to Kansas City
, but she grieved over her broken relationship with Orville. She tried many times for a reconciliation, but Orville refused.
Two years after her marriage, Katharine contracted pneumonia. When Orville found out, he still refused to contact her. Their brother Lorin persuaded him to visit her, and he was at her bedside when she died.
She died on March 3, 1929 at 54 years old.
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
. She was a high school teacher and later became an international celebrity when she accompanied her famous brothers in Europe.
Early years
She was born on August 19, 1874, exactly three years after Orville Wright, as the only surviving girl of Milton WrightMilton Wright (Bishop)
Milton Wright was the father of aviation pioneers Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright, and a Bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.- Family :* Father: Dan Wright* Mother: Catherine Wright née Reeder...
and Susan Koerner. She was especially close to Wilbur and Orville
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
, and when their mother died in 1889, she took over the responsibility for the household.
She graduated from Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in 1896. She then took a position at Steele High School in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. To help with the household chores, she hired a maid, Carrie Kayler, who remained with the family for decades.
When Wilbur and Orville began spending time away from home at Kitty Hawk and later in Europe and Washington, D.C., Katharine constantly wrote to them, keeping them abreast of family and hometown news. She sometimes scolded them when they didn't regularly send correspondence, and warned them of 'distractions' when in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In 1908, after nearly three years of trying, the brothers convinced the U.S. Signal Corps to allow them to test their Flyer
Wright Flyer
The Wright Flyer was the first powered aircraft, designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903 near the Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, U.S.The U.S...
for possible sale to the government. Orville was the pilot for the demonstrations. After a week of successful and record breaking flights, disaster struck on September 17, 1908. A broken propeller sent the airplane out of control. The crash killed the passenger, Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge, and seriously injured Orville, who suffered broken ribs and a broken leg. Katharine immediately went to his bedside at an Army Hospital in northern Virginia, and rarely left his room during Orville's seven week recuperation. She took emergency leave from her teaching job and was never to return.
Celebrity
Wilbur asked Katharine to go to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with Orville, and in 1909 they joined him in Pau. She quickly dominated the social scene, being far more outgoing and charming than the notoriously shy brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
. French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
newspapers were fascinated by what they saw as the human side of the Wrights. Rumors began to circulate as to Katharine's importance in the invention of the Wright Flyer
Wright Flyer
The Wright Flyer was the first powered aircraft, designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903 near the Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, U.S.The U.S...
. Some myths—such as her funding of the experiments, or sewing the wing coverings or help with math needed to design the aeroplane--lived on, despite strenuous denials by her and the brothers at the time. She was awarded, along with Wilbur and Orville, the Legion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, making her one of the only women from the U.S. to receive it.
When they returned to Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, all three siblings were huge celebrities, and Katharine took on business responsibilities, becoming an officer of the Wright Company
Wright Company
The Wright Company was the commercial aviation business venture of the Wright Brothers, established by them in 1909 in conjunction with several prominent industrialists from New York and Detroit with the intention of capitalizing on their invention of the practical airplane. It maintained a...
in 1912 after Wilbur died. The company was sold in 1915 by Orville.
Upheaval and her new life
In 1917, their father Milton died, three years after he, Katharine, Orville, and Charles and Carrie Kayler Grumbach moved to Hawthorn HillHawthorn Hill
Hawthorn Hill in Oakwood, Ohio, USA, was the post-1914 home of Orville, Milton, and Katharine Wright. Wilbur and Orville Wright intended for it to be their joint home, but Wilbur died in 1912, before the home's 1914 completion. The brothers hired the prominent Dayton architectural firm of...
, a newly-constructed mansion in the Dayton suburb of Oakwood. Orville became increasingly dependent on Katharine. She looked after his social schedule, correspondence and business engagements along with his secretary, Mabel Beck, and ran the household as before.
Marriage, heartbreak and death
In the 1920s, Katharine renewed correspondence with an old boyfriend from college days, newspaperman Henry J. Haskell, a widower who lived in Kansas CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. They began a romance through their letters, but Katharine feared Orville's reaction. After several attempts, Henry broke the news to Orville. He was devastated, and stopped speaking to his sister.
Katharine wed in 1926. Orville refused to attend the ceremony. Katharine and her husband moved to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, but she grieved over her broken relationship with Orville. She tried many times for a reconciliation, but Orville refused.
Two years after her marriage, Katharine contracted pneumonia. When Orville found out, he still refused to contact her. Their brother Lorin persuaded him to visit her, and he was at her bedside when she died.
She died on March 3, 1929 at 54 years old.
Further reading
- Maurer, Richard, The Wright Sister: Katharine Wright and Her Famous Brothers, 2003
External links
- Katharine Wright at Findagrave
- Public Radio interview with historian Cindy Wilkey about Katharine's role in the Wright Brothers' success.