Wm. Robert Wright
Encyclopedia
William Robert Wright (goes by Robert Wright) is an American
attorney
and biographer of David O. McKay
. With Gregory Prince
, he is the co-author of the book David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
, which was named the 2006 Best Biography by the Mormon History Association
.
, who collected records of McKay's presidency for over 35 years. Through Middlemiss, Wright knew McKay personally. On one occasion, after Wright and his twin brother Richard had submitted their missionary applications, but had not yet received their assignments, McKay asked how it was going and told them that Robert would serve in Switzerland
and Richard in England
.
Wright promised his aunt that upon her retirement or death, he would take care to preserve her records of McKay and have them published. Wright donated McKay's diaries, discourses and some other records to the David Oman McKay Papers, a massive collection held by the Manuscript Division of Special Collections in the University of Utah
's Marriott Library. These and other materials were significant in the research of Prince and Wright's biography of McKay.
Wright served the LDS Church as president
of the Washington D.C. Mission
from 1989 to 1992. It was during that time in Washington that he met Prince and began collaboration on their ten-year effort to produce the David O. McKay biography.
Wright is a retired attorney
who practiced law in Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C.
His varied public service includes serving as the chairman of the University of Utah
's Institutional Council and as chairman of the Utah State School Board. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and biographer of David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
. With Gregory Prince
Gregory Prince
Gregory A. Prince is an American pathology researcher, businessman, author, and historian of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Biography:Prince was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After graduating as valedictorian from Dixie College Gregory A. Prince (born 1948) is an American pathology...
, he is the co-author of the book David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism is the first book to draw upon the David O. McKay Papers at the J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, in addition to some two hundred interviews conducted by the authors, Gregory Prince and William Robert Wright...
, which was named the 2006 Best Biography by the Mormon History Association
Mormon History Association
The Mormon History Association is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field...
.
Biography
Wright is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His aunt was Clare Middlemiss, the longtime personal secretary of David O. McKayDavid O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
, who collected records of McKay's presidency for over 35 years. Through Middlemiss, Wright knew McKay personally. On one occasion, after Wright and his twin brother Richard had submitted their missionary applications, but had not yet received their assignments, McKay asked how it was going and told them that Robert would serve in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Richard in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Wright promised his aunt that upon her retirement or death, he would take care to preserve her records of McKay and have them published. Wright donated McKay's diaries, discourses and some other records to the David Oman McKay Papers, a massive collection held by the Manuscript Division of Special Collections in the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
's Marriott Library. These and other materials were significant in the research of Prince and Wright's biography of McKay.
Wright served the LDS Church as president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Washington D.C. Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
from 1989 to 1992. It was during that time in Washington that he met Prince and began collaboration on their ten-year effort to produce the David O. McKay biography.
Wright is a retired attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who practiced law in Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
His varied public service includes serving as the chairman of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
's Institutional Council and as chairman of the Utah State School Board. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.