The other day when I was in the Rubenstein Library, browsing through box 10 of 400, I came across this letter that was addressed to Richard from a company in Johannesburg, South Africa. As I was noting the incredible handwriting, and trying to understand the content, I was stunned at how far a reach this man had.
Apparently, Richard was trying to find a company to purchase his cigarette packaging machinery company. Not sure why, but know that he held on to the company, which is a good thing for Durham, given in the 1930’s it was moved to Durham and was known as Wright Machinery.
I can’t imagine there were many individuals who traveled so extensively and made the number of business acquaintances that Richard Harvey Wright did. I can tell you that when I want to give up, all I have to do is dig into his archives and find a reason to push on. Thank you Richard Harvey Wright….
I’m excited to share that my book, A Story of Durham: Told the Wright Way, is now available for PRE-ORDER at an early bird price! The official release day is September 26, 2023. Click the link below to order your copy today!
For the past two years, I have been researching and writing about my grandfather’s uncle, Richard Harvey Wright. When I began my search, I knew very little about this man except that he was one of the founding fathers of Durham, North Carolina. But what I discovered was a story of passion, love, and a determination to succeed with no boundaries. My new book, A Story of Durham: Told the Wright Way, will cause you to reflect on your own history and hopefully create in you a desire to study your past to understand your presence.
Read the first chapter and stay tuned for more updates.