David Lane Wright papers, 1929-1967

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wright, David Lane, 1929-1967
Title
David Lane Wright papers
Dates
1929-1967 (inclusive)
Quantity
11 boxes, (4.5 linear ft.)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 002
Summary
Roughly divided into half correspondence and half literary output, including literary manuscripts, poems, early journals and diaries (1946-1957), an autobiography (1951), and various publications. Much of the correspondence (1942-1957, 1961-1964) was exchanged with individuals involved with Utah State University athletes; significant correspondents include Dick Romney, John Holway, James Miller, Doris Taylor, and the Wright family. Also includes newspaper clippings and other material on E.L. "Dick" Romney.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

David Lane Wright was born on May 22, 1929, in Bennington, Idaho to Conover and Lenora Rich Wright. He was a descendent of LDS Apostle Charles C. Rich. He spent his childhood in Bennington, and from the time he was a young man he kept copious journals. He loved sports, especially baseball and football, and enjoyed exploring the terrain around Bennington and Montpelier which figures prominently in his work. When he was seven, his brother Rich, to whom he had been very close, died from an acute appendicitis and this event continued to influence David for the rest of his life and the character of his brother often appeared under different names in many of his writings. In fact his most prominent piece, a play first produced in 1956 called “Still the Mountain Wind,” was about Rich's death.

Wright started attending Utah State University,(then called Utah State Agricultural College), in 1946 at the age of seventeen on an athletic scholarship. He studied English under the tutelage of Professors A. N. Sorensen and Ira Hayward both of whom encouraged him to write and publish. He also was a sports writer for the student paper. Throughout his life, his dream was to become a writer, but he also prepared to become an English teacher. For the first three years at college he was on the track team and played football. His final year he quit football to spend more time writing.

After graduation Wright held many jobs as a teacher throughout Idaho. On October 22, 1950 he married Nancy Johnson, one of his students from Rexburg. He changed positions several times and eventually ended up back his home town working at the elementary school. He entered the Air Force and was called into active duty and continued write, winning several Air Force story contests and producing his work, “Still the Mountain Wind.” Also during this time he was stationed in various places throughout the United States and the world including South Dakota, Florida, Alabama, and Iceland.

In 1963, Wright was able to pursue his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Iowa while still in the Air Force. He completed it in 1964. While stationed in Alabama during this time, he became involved in the civil rights campaign. In 1965, Wright was sent to Saigon, Vietnam. There he performed mostly administrative and diplomatic duties, earning a Bronze Star and was promoted to rank of Major. When he returned from Vietnam in December, 1966, he and Nancy divorced. Wright maintained custody of the children. In February of 1967, he suffered a heart attack. He recovered somewhat and was able to return to his home in Montgomery, Alabama where he lived for the next four months. On June 26, 1967, he suffered a second heart attack and passed away at the age of thirty-eight.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains the letters and writings of David Lane Wright. The scope and breadth is impressive due no doubt to Wright's compulsive saving, including letters he received as a child. The first six boxes are devoted to Wright's correspondence with friends, family, publishers, and the Air Force. box 1 contains outgoing mail from 1942 to 1963. boxes 2 through 5 contain incoming mail organized either chronologically or by addressee along the lines which Wright organized them himself. box six contains the envelopes from these letters. box seven contains early writings and autobiographical writings. boxes 8 through 11 contain some his writings. box 8 contains college writings and recommendations to the University of Iowa. box 9 contains mostly drafts and reviews of “Still the Mountain Wind.” box 10 contains drafts of “River Saints,” and “Speak Ye Tenderly of Kings.” The final box, box 11, contains various other poems and short stories. Finally, because the addendum was too large to incorporate into this collection and since they overlap, cross references to the addendum have been added to this register where appropriate.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the David Lane Wright papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: David Lane Wright papers USU_COLL MSS 002, box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 002, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged by subject and chronologically

Acquisition Information

Received as a gift from Charlotte Wright Piggot, Janice Wright Ruediger, Paul David Wright, and Gregory G. Wright--1973.

Related Materials

David Lane Wright AddendumMss Coll 39

David Lane Wright Photograph CollectionPO135

Bibliography

Monographs
Autobiography David L. Wright. “Autobiography.” David Lane Wright Addendum Mss Coll 39, box 12, Fd 1. Special Collections and Archives, Utah State University Merrill Library: Logan, Utah. Autobiography David L. Wright. “Autobiography.” David Lane Wright Papers Mss Coll 2, , box 7, Fds 5, 6. Special Collection and Archives, Utah State University Merrill Library: Logan, Utah.

Bibliography

Serial Publications
Discovering A Mormon Writer: David L. Wright 1929-1967 James Miller. “Discovering A Mormon Writer: David L. Wright 1929-1967.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. V(2), pp. 79-85.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

I:  Correspondence Sent, 1942-1963Return to Top

(17 folders)

Chronological Arrangement (see also Mss Coll 39, box 9, Fds 4-8; box 10; box 10a)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Correspondence Sent
1942 June 2 - 1945 August 24
1 2
Correspondence Sent
1945 September 5 - 1946 December 19
1 3
Correspondence Sent
1947 December 12 - 1949 July 16
1 4
Correspondence Sent
1953 August 09 - 1953 October 27
1 5
Correspondence Sent
1953 November 10 - 1954 January 22
1 6
Correspondence Sent
1954 January 30 - 1954 March 23
1 7
Correspondence Sent
1954 March 26 - 1954 May 11
1 8
Correspondence Sent
1954 May 15 - 1954 July 5
1 9
Correspondence Sent
1954 July 6 - 1954 August 24
1 10
Correspondence Sent
1954 September - 1956 December
1 11
Correspondence Sent
1957 January-February
1 12
Correspondence Sent
1957 March-April
1 13
Correspondence Sent
1958-1962
1 14
Correspondence Sent
1962 January-March
1 15
Correspondence Sent
1962 April-September
1 16
Correspondence Sent
1962 October-December
1 17
Correspondence Sent
1963

II:  Correspondence Received To 1950, 1949-1950Return to Top

(13 folders)

Listed Alphabetically (see also Mss Coll 39, box 1, Fds 1-2)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Correspondence Allen - Croft
(13 folders)
undated
2 2
Correspondence Deseret News - Dunn
undated
2 3
Correspondence French - Hunter
undated
2 4
Correspondence Ipsen - Montpelier
undated
2 5
Correspondence James Miller
undated
2 6
Correspondence Olsen - Robertson See also: Peterson, Betty and Romney, Dick
undated
2 7
Correspondence Peterson, Betty
undated
2 8
Correspondence sent to Romney, Dick
1949 September
2 9
Correspondence Received to Romney, Dick
1950 June
2 10
Correspondence Sarbach - Stephens
undated
2 11
Correspondence Teuscher - Tuddenham See also: Taylor, Doris
undated
2 12
Correspondence Taylor, Doris
undated
2 13
Correspondence Utah - Young
undated

III:  Correspondence Received From The Wright Family And Unidentified Correspondence, 1948-1950Return to Top

(11 folders)

Arranged by Addressee (see also Mss Coll 39, box 1, Fd 1; box 7, Fds 7-13)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 l
See also: Wright; Conover, Donna, Lenore Nona Marie, and Robert E
1950
3 2
from Conover Wright, to
1950; 1950
3 3
Donna Wright, to
1950
3 4
Lenore Wright, to
1950
3 5
Nona Marie Wright, to
1948
3 6
Nona Marie Wright,
1948-1950
3 7
Robert E. Wright, to
1950
3 8
Unidentified Addressors, to
1950
3 9
Unidentified Addressors, Received to
Fd 2
1950
3 10
Unidentified Addressors, Received to
Fd 3
1950
3 11
Cards and Announcements (some identified)
undated

IV:  Correspondence Received, 1951-1959Return to Top

(19 folders)

Chronological with Individual folders Alphabetic (see also Mss Coll 39, box 1 Fd 2-6; box 3 Fd 1-8)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 1
1951-1953
4 2
Alleman - Bailey
1953 July - 1954 August 24
4 3
Call - Sorensen. See also: Holmes, Larry; Miller, James; Stephens, Geneva
1953 July - 1954 August 24
4 4
Holmes, Larry
1953 July - 1954 August 24
4 5
Miller, James
1953 April-August
4 6
Miller, James
Fd 2
1953 September-December
4 7
Miller, James
Fd 3
1954 January-April
4 8
Miller, James
Fd 4
1954 May - August
4 9
Stephens, Geneva Wright
1953 July - 1954 August
4 10
Wright (Conover, Donna, Warren)
1953 July - 1954 August
4 11
Wright, Leonore
1953 July - 1954 August
4 12
Willie, Mervyn
1953 July - 1954 August
4 13
Bennington Children
1953 July - 1954 August
4 14
Unidentified Correspondence
1953 July - 1954 August
4 15
Cards and Announcements
1953 July - 1954 August
4 16
Poetry Public
1953 July - 1954 August
4 17
Alphabetically. See also: Wright; Conover, Lenore, Warren
1948-1959
4 18
Wright; Conover, Lenore and Warren
1958-1959
4 19
Unidentified
1958-1959

V:  Correspondence Received November, 1961-1965Return to Top

(12 folders)

Arranged Alphabetically by Addressee (see also Mss Coll 39, box 4, Fd 4 -5; box 7, Fd 1- 2)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 1
Abramson - Brosnan, See also: Massachusetts Review; Brown, Robert; and Esquire
1962
5 2
Call - Esquire, For Esty, Jane, see Mutiny; for Hills, Rust, see Esquire
1962
5 3
Hendricks - Mutiny, See also Miller, James (2 Fds) For Lett, Paul, see Mutiny; for Hills, Rust, see Esquire; for Massachusetts Review, see also Abramson, Doris
1962
5 4
Miller, James
1961 November - 1962 May
5 5
Miller, James
1962 June-December
5 6
Saturday - Wright
1962
5 7
unidentified
1962
5 8
Alleman - Cummins
1964-1965
5 9
Esty - Mueller See also: Miller, James
(Photos with Mueller correspondence)
1964-1965
5 10
N - Z
1964-1965
5 11
Miller, James
1964
5 12
Miller, James
1965

VI:  Envelopes From The Correspondence, 1929-1967Return to Top

(one box)

VII:  Journals, Autobiographical Accounts, Early Writings, M. F. A. Thesis, 1940-1949Return to Top

(16 folders)

(For Journals, see also Mss Coll 39, box 23 - box 27; for M. F. A. work see also Mss Coll 39, box 21, Fd 1; for early writings see also Mss Coll 39, box 13, Fds 1-4)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
7 1
Work Schedules (Writing)
8 leaves included day book notes
1956
7 2
Student Teaching Critiques
1949
7 3
Journal
1946
7 4
Journal
1946 November 5 - 1947 April 15
7 5
Autobiography
See also: "The Death of Rick", Fd 1
1950-1951
7 6
Autobiographical Sketch
6 typescript pages, 1st carbon Probably written as part of an application for Paul Engle's creative writing workshop at University of Iowa
1962 April 15
7 7
Early Writings
one notebook 38 holograph typescript leaves
1940s
7 8
Early Writings
33 typescript and holograph sheets
1940s
7 9
Early Writings
Summer,1947
7 10
Early Writings
undated
7 11
Early Writings Notebook
undated
7 12
Early Writings Notebook
undated
7 13
Early Writings Notebook
undated
7 14
Early Writings Notebook
undated
7 15
Miscellaneous Early Papers
undated
7 16
MFA Thesis, State University of Iowa, "Afterward and Before: Four Stories", "Of Pleasures and Palaces", "A Train of Events", "A Summer in the Country", "Speak Ye Tenderly of Things"
undated

VIII:  College Notes, Athletic Papers, Romney Correspondence, Letters Of Recommendation To State University Of Iowa, Civil Service Forms, Early Poems By James Miller , 1936-1956Return to Top

(11 folders)

(see also Mss Coll 39, box 15, Fd 3; box 21)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
8 1
E. L. "Dick" Romney, Correspondence
in the files of David Wright 14 pieces, most dealing with USU-AAU playoffs in 1936
1936-1949
8 2
U. S. U. Athletic Papers Notes from Romney to Wright, Sports information prepared by Wright, and Correspondence dealing with this
23 pieces
unitdate
8 3
Class Notes, Fall Quarter
1947
8 4
Class Notes (Literary Notes)
1947-1948
8 5
Class Notes, Fall Quarter
1948
8 6
Class Notes, Winter Quarter
1948
8 7
Published Material, U. S. U.
undated
8 8
Newspaper Clippings
undated
8 9
Letters of Recommendation for the Creative Writing Workshop at State University of Iowa
19 pieces
undated
8 10
Civil Service Forms, Application for position as Publications Editor/ Writer, GSll, USAF
13 pieces
1956
8 11
Early Poems by James Miller,
12 items, some duplicates
1947-1949

IX:  "Still The Mountain Wind," Genera, Articles , 1954-1956Return to Top

(18 folders)

(For “Still the Mountain Wind,” see also Mss Coll 39, box 17, Fds 4-7; for articles see Mss Coll 39, box 16, Fds 7-18)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
9 1
"The Death of Rich" 47 pages Typescript, first carbon Ca. 1954 Autobiographical account Formed basis for dramatization as "Still the Mountain Wind"
undated
9 2
Notes on dramatizing "Still the Mountain Wind" Notes on discussions with Joe Robertson and Ken Olson at Panama City, Florida
undated
9 3
Pre-production Correspondence for "Still the Mountain Wind"
Contains holographs
1955-1956
9 4
Script "Still the Mountain Wind" typescript, early draft Contains holograph corrections and changes by Vosco Call
37 pages
undated
9 5
Script "Still the Mountain Wind" typescript, late draft
Holograph corrections by Vosco Call 20 Pages
1956 January 25
9 6
Script "Still the Mountain Wind"
2 bound copies
1956
9 7
Script "Still the Mountain Wind"
Director's copy for Logan Premiere performance
1956
9 8
Critiques from Premiere performance Comments received on forms distributed to the audience
24 pieces
undated
9 9
Critiques from Premiere performance letters from member of the audience
undated
9 10
Critiques from Premiere performance Typescript copies of contents of Fds 8 & 9
undated
9 11
Newspaper and other articles on the Premiere performance
undated
9 12
Correspondence Sent
Contents: possibilities of further productions of "Still the Mountain Wind"
March to December, 1956
9 13
Correspondence Received
Regarding further productions of "Still the Mountain Wind"
March to December, 1956
9 14
Critiques for the 1960 Beaver High School Production of "Still the Mountain Wind"
60 items
undated
9 15
"A Summer in the Country" 29 pages, typescript Rewrite of the play into short story form
undated
9 16
Reviews of "A Summer in the Country" 5 items, typescript and mimeograph Short story published in Mutiny, Autumn
1960
9 17
Genera. Typescript of works by David L. Wright Poems and prose
undated
9 18
Articles by David L. Wright
undated

X:  "River Saints: A Mormon Chronicle" And "Speak Ye Tenderly Of Kings", 1964 and 1969Return to Top

(12 folders)

(For “River Saints,” see also Mss Coll 39, box 16, Fd 6; for “Speak Ye Tenderly,” see also Mss Coll 39, box 14, Fd 13)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
10 1
"River Saints", preliminary notes 8 pages holograph, 1 page typed
undated
10 2
"My Peaceful Village: An Account of my Visit Home, October 13-29, 1964 (from my Journal, notes, and added rememberings)" 6 typescript pages with holograph corrections and changes The prose account written on which the poetic form of "River Saints" is based
undated
10 3
"My Peaceful Village ..." 26 pages typescript Revised draft First page missing
undated
10 4
"River Saints" Preliminary draft 52 typescript pages with holograph addenda
undated
10 5
"River Saints" Partially revised draft [8], 24-52pp., typescript, first carbon
undated
10 6
"River Saints: A Mormon Chronicle" Logan, [1969] Edited, put in final form and printed by James Miller
undated
10 7
Notes 6 pages, holograph, 10 pages typescript Notes in Wright's hand with typescript re-working (possibly by James Miller) Suggests treatment of novel "Speak Ye Tenderly of Kings" (in Deseret's Sweet Land) in the manner of River Saints
undated
10 8
Notes 28 typescript pages (Various numbers) from novel "Speak Ye Tenderly of Kings"
undated
10 9
"Speak Ye Tenderly of Kings" (short story) two items, typescript, 17 pages; reprint, pp. 23-33 considerable variation in wording
undated
10 10
"Speak Ye Tenderly of Kings" (play) preliminary drafts adapted from short story by Charles W. Whitman (q. v. in "Correspondence Received") Contains correspondence and holograph notes by both Wright and Whitman
undated
10 11
"Speak Ye Tenderly of Kings" A one act play by Charles W. Whitman and David L. Wright Adapted from a short story of the same name by David L. Wright two drafts (one with carbon copy) and a typed page of notes from Vosco Call on production descriptions
undated
10 12
"Speak Ye Tenderly of Kings" 480 typescript pages with holograph notes Originally titled "In Deseret's Sweet Land", the strongly autobiographical novel which Wright mined for the production of short stories, including that of the same name
undated

XI:  Short Stories And Poems, undatedReturn to Top

(27 folders)

(for short stories see also Mss Coll 39, boxes 13-15; for poetry see Mss Coll 39, box 16, Fds 1-6)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
11 1
"The Bigger Game" 11 pages typescript, first carbon
undated
11 2
"A Boy and Girl and An Evening" 5 pages typescript, 1 page typed notes, all with holograph changes
undated
11 3
"By Thy Works" 2 pages mimeographed 2 copies
undated
11 4
"Every Little Moment" 2 pages typed Also titled "The Time After the First Time"; "The Argument B. C. and A. D."
undated
11 5
"A Fisherman Among Men" 9 pages typescript See also: "River Saints" and "The Conscience of the Village"
undated
11 6
"Flight" 25 pages, holograph
undated
11 7
"The Hawk" 7 pages typescript, second carbon
undated
11 8
"Her Third Birthday" 3 pages 2 original typescript copies
undated
11 9
"The Hero" 11 pages typescript
undated
11 10
"The High Life" 10 pages, 3 drafts with holograph corrections and notes
undated
11 11
"Honesty is the Best Policy Except Sometimes" 11 pages typescript two drafts included first carbon of early draft entitled "The Making of a Citizen" and original and two carbons of final draft holograph notes on first carbon
undated
11 12
"Of Pleasures and Palaces" 45 typescript pages with holograph changes Earlier titled "Amid the Alien Corn" Final draft in MFA Thesis
undated
11 13
"Of Pleasures and Palaces" Third draft 40 pages, original and partial carbon typescript Original with holograph changes
undated
11 14
"Of Pleasures and Palaces" Fourth draft 36 pages, typescript with holograph changes
undated
11 15
"Of Pleasures and Palaces" Fifth draft 40 pages First carbon with holograph changes
undated
11 16
"A Measure of Contentment" 11 pages typescript together with page proofs from publication in The Humanist
undated
11 17
"Mice Men and Principles" 7 and 8 pages Five drafts
undated
11 18
"Moods in Christmastime" various drafts in typescript and ditto
undated
11 19
"Too Small" 5 pages, 12 drafts, typescript and carbon with holograph changes Titled through various re-workings "The Littlest Enemy" "What Little Boys Are Made Of" "Comes The Revolution" "The Day the Revolution Began"
undated
11 20
"Sparkplug" 5 pages, original and first carbon
undated
11 21
"A Train of Events" 13 pages, Six drafts Typescript with holograph changes, also first carbon
undated
11 22
Poems 1 (Drafts) "A Difference in Age" - "Hired Help"
undated
11 23
Poems 2 (Drafts) "Inside the Outside Boy, Down South" - "Six Years of Marriage and One Threat"
undated
11 24
Poems 3 (Drafts) "Small Town Girl" - "Word of Wisdom from a Friend"
undated
11 25
Poems (Untitled)
undated
11 26
Poems (Last revisions) Typescript by Janice Wright from last known revisions
undated
11 27
"Scenes From a Train Trip (to Larry Holmes)" Poem 6 pages typescript with holograph changes
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Authors, American--Idaho
  • Authors, American--Utah
  • Mormon authors--Utah
  • Poets, American--Idaho
  • Mormon authors--Idaho
  • Poets, American--Utah

Personal Names

  • Romney, E. L. (Ernest Lowell), 1895
  • Wright, David Lane, 1929-1967

Family Names

  • Wright family