Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
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Descriptive Summary
Title: Allen Henry Wright Collection
Dates: 1889-1935
Collection Number: MS.032
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 4 boxes, 3 ½ linear ft.
Repository:
San Diego Public Library
San Diego, California 92101
Abstract: The Allen Henry Wright Collection was donated to the San Diego Public Library Special Collections as a gift from Mr. Wright’s
granddaughter Marilyn Mitchell Shaw. The collection contains materials related to the personal and professional life of Allen
Henry Wright. It is divided into three series: Series I) Personal material, including correspondence and a collection of photographs
of his family; Series II) Professional work, which includes a small amount of material from his career as the City Clerk for
San Diego; his writings and correspondents as a professional correspondent; and a collection of photographs all relating to
San Diego from approximately 1910 – 1920; Series III) Various publications, while not attributed to Wright, these publications
accompanied the collection when received.
Language of Material: English
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
San Diego Public Library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claims
of the copyright holder. Permission to copy or publish any portion of San Diego Public Library's collection must be given
by the San Diego Public Library.
Preferred Citation
Allen Henry Wright Collection. San Diego Public Library
Scope and Content of Collection
The Allen Henry Wright Collection was donated to the San Diego Public Library Special Collections as a gift from Mr. Wright’s
granddaughter Marilyn Mitchell Shaw. It was mailed to the library from Ms. Shaw’s residence in Altoona, Pennsylvania in ten
installments from September 2012 to June 2013. The collection contains materials related to the personal and professional
life of Allen Henry Wright. It is divided into three series: Series I) Personal material, including correspondence and a collection
of photographs of his family; Series II) Professional work, which includes a small amount of material from his career as the
City Clerk for San Diego; his writings and correspondents as a professional correspondent; and a collection of photographs
all relating to San Diego from approximately 1910 – 1920; Series III) Various publications, while not attributed to Wright,
these publications accompanied the collection when received.
Allen Henry Wright was born to Samuel Allen Wright and Ann Eliza Brower in Rome, New York, April 20, 1873. During the 1890s,
Mr. Wright graduated from the Rome Free Academy of New York, married Florence May Bangs of Waterville, New York and worked
as a reporter for both the Rome Daily Sentinel (Rome, N.Y.) and The Sheron Telegraph (Sheron, Pennsylvania). The Wright family
moved to San Diego in 1903 where Wright initially worked as a journalist. In 1906 he was hired to work in the city clerk’s
office as a deputy clerk. In 1910 Wright was elected City Clerk, a position he held until his untimely death of a heart attack
on April 23, 1938.
While working in the city clerk’s office Mr. Wright continued as a freelance press correspondent, writing feature articles,
descriptive sketches, obituaries, and “News Notes” for trade papers and specialized magazines.
As an enthusiast for his community, genealogy, and history, Mr. Wright served as a state officer of the California Historical
Society, state president of the California League of Municipalities, and Director of the Cabrillo Club (1917-1918).
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