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Collection: Wright Brothers Collection: 1897-1928

Among the materials the Wright Brothers estate gave the Library of Congress in 1948 were 300 glass plate negatives and two nitrate negatives, most taken by the Wright brothers themselves between 1897 and 1928. About 200 views from 1900 to 1911 document their successes and failures with their new flying machines. The collection provides an excellent pictorial record of the Wright brothers laboratory, engines, models, experimental planes, runways, flights, and even their accidents. The collection also contains individual portraits and group pictures of the Wright brothers and their family and friends, as well as photos of their homes, other buildings, towns, and landscapes.

135 photos

Start of a glide; Wilbur in motion at left holding one end of glider (rebuilt with single vertical rudder), Orville lying prone in machine, and Dan Tate at right; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

First flight, December 17, 1903

Bertha Wright, age five, niece of the Wright brothers, daughter of Lorin Wright

Bertha Wright, niece of the Wright brothers, daughter of Lorin Wright, age five

Oberlin College reception, group photograph, Oberlin, Ohio

Katharine Wright, Harriet Silliman, and Agnes Osborne in horse-drawn carriage across from Wright home, 7 Hawthorn Street, Dayton, Ohio

Wilbur in prone position in damaged machine on ground after unsuccessful trial of December 14, 1903; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Helen Wright, age 12, niece of the Wright brothers, daughter of Reuchlin Wright

Railroad at Narrows

Wolf fire

George Reeder, relative of the Wright Brothers, called Uncle George, head and shoulders

Orville making right turn, showing warping of wings, hill visible in front of him; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station, with four crew members wearing white hats and jackets standing in doorway, and a boat near outer wall at right; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Wilbur gliding in level flight, single rear rudder clearly visible; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Wilbur gliding down steep slope of Big Kill Devil Hill; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Side view of Wilbur gliding in level flight, moving to right near bottom of Big Hill; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Lester, Willie and Paul Henderson, neighbors of Wilbur and Orville Wright in Dayton, Ohio

Katharine Wright and friend Harriet Silliman, half length, smiling and facing each other

Lorin Wright, brother of Wilbur and Orville, seated holding his children, Horace, Ivonette, and Leontine

Ivonette Wright, age five, niece of the Wright brothers, daughter of Lorin Wright

Herbert Wright, age eight, son of Reuchlin Wright, and Milton Wright, age nine, son of Lorin Wright

Mrs. Lorin (Lou) Wright, half length

Mrs. Lorin (Lou) Wright, half length

Herbert Wright, nephew of Wilbur and Orville, son of Reuchlin Wright, age eight