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Wright (Marion Thompson) Papers
0177
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Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Marion Thompson Wright Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0177
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
2 Hollinger Boxes, 1 carton.
Date (inclusive): 1939-1987
Abstract: Marion Thompson Wright was an African American scholar in the fields of history, sociology, and education. She was the first
African American to receive a doctorate from Columbia University.
Her papers contain her unbound doctoral dissertation, diplomas from Howard and Columbia Universities, personal correspondence,
documents about her death and estate, taped interviews about her, and a small amount of photographs.
Language of Material:
English
.
Advance notice required for access.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Gabrielle Bacchus , Marion Thompson Wright's great- granddaughter in November 2019.
The Marion Thompson Wright Papers are arranged into four series in chronological order: 1. Education and Academic Research;
2. Correspondence; 3. Personal Papers; 4. Legacy.
Marion Thompson Wright was a leading scholar in African American education and sociology. She was born on September 12, 1902
in East Orange, New Jersey. She married William Moss at the age of sixteen and together they had two children, James and Thelma.
Since universities did not accept female students who were married or had been divorced, Wright pretended to be unwed in order
to enroll in Howard University. Her children were raised by their father, and later, Wright's mother. Wright later remarried
to a man named Arthur M. Wright.
Wright earned her B.A. in Sociology in 1927 from Howard University and her M.A. in history and education a year later, also
from Howard. Wright became the first African American to receive a doctorate from Teacher College, Columbia University in
1940, with her dissertation titled, "The Education of Negroes in New Jersey", which was subsequently published in 1941. She
was additionally the first Black woman to receive a phD in history in the United States.
She became a full time faculty member at Howard University in 1950. She frequently published in
The Journal of Negro History multiple times on the topic of African Americans in New Jersey. Wright's research was also used in the case of Brown vs.
Board of Education in the fight to desegregate schools.
Wright passed away on October 12, 1962 at the age of 60.
[Box/folder# or item name], Marion Thompson Wright Papers, Collection no. 177, Special Collections and University Archives,
University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
This collection was arranged and described by Kelsey Knox, January 2021.
The Marion Thompson Wright Papers contain materials related to several areas of Wright's life. The collections contains Wright's
diplomas from Howard University and Columbia University, along with her dissertation, "The Education of Negroes in New Jersey"
and programs for each of her commencements. It contains some research material as well as articles in which Wright is quoted.
A large quantity of the collection is personal correspondence between Wright and her son, James Moss, as well as a few letters
from others. Another bulk of the collection is about Wright's death and the execution of her estate. the majority of the collection
are documents, but there is also a small amount of photographs, as well as some cassette tapes with interviews about Wright.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Special Collections also holds Marion Thompson Wright's book collection, comprised primarily of first edition volumes signed
by their authors, as well as Wright's own publications. These volumes can be found in the library catalog. This collection
came with a small amount of photographs as well.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence
Dissertations
Interviews