Scope and Content Note
The papers of Jerauld Wright (1898-1995), fleet admiral in the United States Navy and commander of the naval forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), span the years 1853-1960, with the bulk of the items concentrated in the period 1917-1960. They include correspondence, printed matter, photographs, and reports and are organized into two series: Correspondence and Subject Files .
Wright was a prolific correspondent with his wife, Phyllis Thompson Wright, and his letters to her document most of his naval career. Written almost daily, these lengthy letters chronicle virtually every event in which he was involved or observed. This correspondence was discontinued at the end of Wright's career, when he was stationed at home. The primary documentation for this latter period consists of extensive newspaper clippings detailing his activities and travels as an admiral.
The Correspondence also includes both personal and professional correspondence. Of special note is a letter written by Wright in 1941, in which he describes Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., a popular movie actor who served under his command.
The Subject Files are categorized into personal files and professional files. Personal subject files include correspondence, bills and invoices, and photographs concerning Wright's hobbies, leisure activities, and art and other objects collected or of interest to him. Of special note are two letters written in 1853 to the imperial Russian government concerning payment for services rendered to that government by American naval hero John Paul Jones. Professional subject files include correspondence, reports, notes, and photographs concerning Wright's activities in the navy and its policies, especially during wartime.