We all know the story of two brothers who took to the skies and changed human life forever. No one knows the story of the sister who kept things running on the ground and fought for her brother's proper recognition. Katharine Wright, sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright is the woman behind the first brothers of flight. Her story is one of support and sacrifice, so common among other historical women. But Katharine Wright was an uncommon woman keeping her feet on the ground while her brothers soared into history.
Katharine Wright was born August 19, 1874 in Dayton Ohio - on her brother Orville's third birthday. The Wright family consisted of three older brothers, then younger brothers Wilbur, Orville, and Katharine, youngest child and only girl. Their mother died when he was 14, and as their father was a bishop in their church, Katharine kept a home when he traveled, and helped him to entertain. Mr Wright wanted Katharine to have an education and a career. Katharine attended Oberlin College (the oldest co-ed college in the U.S.) At Oberlin Katharine experienced the companionship of women for the first time in her life. She had an active social life iand many friends - both men and women. She returned to Dayton after graduating in 1898, and began a high school teaching job in 1899.
Wilbur and Orville ran a bicycle shop to fund their flying. Katharine wrote their correspondences and managed the shop when the brothers went on flying excursions. When a failed flight killed a government official and injured Orville, Katharine resigned her teaching position and devoted herself to Orville's care. Upon Orville's recovery the trio sailed to France to secure funding and assistance. Wilbur and Orville were shy, but Katharine was a natural spokesperson for the Wright Company. She delighted royalty and the aristocracy. France awarded her The Legion of honor, and she met President Taft in the White House after returning to the states.
Wilbur died in 1912 and Orville sold the company in 1915. The last two younger Wrights remained devoted to each other. Katharine joined the suffrage movement and marched in downtown Dayton to secure women the right to vote. She wrote letters to the Smithsonian imploring them to recognize her brother's flight efforts. Katharine began exchanging letters with a friend from Oberlin, journalist Henry Haskell, after the death of his wife. She and Haskell married in 1926, and Orville cut off ties with Katharine. Katharine and Henry moved Kansas City, Missouri and planned a belated honeymoon in 1929. Katharine came down with pneumonia. Orville reached her side one day before she died on March 3rd 1929. Katharine Wright, while remaining grounded, helped humankind take to the skies and fly.
SOURCES :
Katharine Wright Haskell. Wikipedia.
Katharine Wright. thewrightbrothers.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment