A Family’s Flight Through Time: The Milton Wright Postcard Collection

A remarkable piece of Wright family history has taken on new life in the digital age. The Milton Wright Postcard Collection (MS-711), now available through the CORE Scholar institutional repository, offers a personal glimpse into the family behind the pioneers of flight.  

Originally collected by Milton Wright (1892-1961)—the nephew of aviation legends Wilbur, Orville, and Katharine Wright—this set of 111 postcards captures moments of connection, travel, and family correspondence from the early 20th century. The postcards, primarily dating from 1905 to 1912, were sent by Milton's family members and friends, including the famous siblings themselves. Many bear postmarks from destinations across the United States and abroad, revealing a fascinating network of communication during an era of discovery and innovation.

Over the years, the postcards passed through several hands before being generously lent by the Wright family to Wright State University for digitization and description. Thanks to their collaboration, the collection can now be freely explored in CORE Scholar, ensuring that these intimate pieces of Wright family history remain accessible to researchers, aviation enthusiasts, and the public alike.

Together, these postcards do more than document correspondence—they connect us to the human stories behind one of history’s most transformative achievements.