Fonds 704 Wright Family fonds

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Summary information

Repository: South Peace Regional Archives
Title: Wright Family Fonds
Reference code: 0704
Date: 1901 – 1993 (date of creation)
Physical description: 5 cm of textual material

2 volumes

496 photographs

Language: English
Dates of creation, revision and deletion:

Administrative history / Biographical sketch

Roy Willis Wright was born in 1917 in Fraser, Montana moving with his parents Christina and Peter Wright to Grande Prairie, Alberta in 1919. As he grew up in Grande Prairie, being active in a variety of sports, Roy became the eldest of seven siblings (Kelly, Cliff, Peter, Allan, Marie, Agnes).

During World War II Roy volunteered for service, becoming an Air Gunner for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Between 1943 to 1944 Roy participated in 30 missions in Europe, afterwards working as an instructor for the RCAF until the end of the war. His siblings also served including Kelly and Allan Wright (the former killed-in-action during the war).

In 1938 Roy Wright worked at the Nelson and Archibald General Store. After World War II in 1946 he bought shares in the company. He gained ownership of the store in 1957, renaming it the Roy Wright Store, and ran it until selling in 1970. During this period Roy married married Betty Edgar in 1951. The couple had seven children (Patricia, Christine, Susan, Margaret, Barbara, Annabelle, Bill) and ran the store together. In 1970 the couple purchased the East Side Grocery and ran it as a family business until retiring and selling it in 1986.

Roy was involved in a variety of community groups and sports in Grande Prairie, including the chamber of commerce, the Kinsmen and Masonic Lodge, and the Grande Prairie Golf and Country Club. Roy Wright passed away in Grande Prairie on September 12th, 1998 at the age of 81.

Custodial history

The records were collected together by Roy Wright, who passed them to Margaret Wright before donation to the archives.

Scope and content

This fonds contains records about the Wright family and Grande Prairie, collected by Roy Wright. This includes photographs and textual records depicting family members, the Wright General Store and East Side Grocery, World War II, as well as membership in Freemason’s and Kinsmen groups.

Series descriptions

0704.01, Roy Wright

0704.02, Cliff Wright

0704.03, Pete Wright, 1955

0704.04, Allan Leslie Wright

0704.05, Kelly Wright, 1933 – 1944

0704.06, Wright Siblings and Extended Family, 1901 – 1964

0704.07, Grande Prairie, 1920 – 1952

0704.08, Certificates and Awards, 1945 – 1970

0704.09, Assorted Scrap Books and Photos, 1932 – 1943

0704.10, Eastside Grocery Ltd., 1985 – 1993

 

Series 0704.01: Roy Wright

Scope and content:

This series covers records directly related to Roy Wright. This includes photos and flight logbooks related to his time as a RCAF Air Gunner in World War II, as well as photographs related to his daily life.

Physical description: 2 cm of textual materials

2 volumes

103 photographs

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Subseries 0704.01.01: World War II

Date: 1941-1982 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series contains a collection of photographs Roy Wright took while serving in World War II as well as two flight log books that recorded missions and other flights taken by his squadron.

Also included is his Royal Canadian Air Force identity card, a postcard of the 15 bomber Squadron RAF, a Royal Canadian Air Force graduation banquet pamphlet, a 1982 Allied Air Forces Reunion registration list, and a narrative written by B. Graham McDonald about Royal Air Force squadrons.

Physical description: 68 photographs

1 cm of textual materials

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Subseries 0704.01.02: Daily Life

Date: 1921-1972 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This subseries collects together photographs Roy Wright had depicting daily life including spending time with family, hunting, and working at the General Store or at East Side Grocery.

Physical description: 33 photographs

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Subseries 0704.01.03: Miscellaneous Photos and Documents

Scope and content:

This subseries collects together notebooks written by Roy Wright containing notes and contacts, two miscellaneous photographs, a 1945 electron registration card, and a 1956 individual permit to purchase liquor.

Physical description: 2 photographs

2 booklets

0.5 cm of textual material

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.02: Cliff Wright

Scope and content:

This series contains a small number of telegrams and a photograph of Cliff Wright in 1944, related to his return from service in World War II.

Physical description: 1 photograph

0.5 cm of textual material

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.03: Pete Wright

Date: 1955 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series contains a small number of records related to Pete Wright, including two photos of Pete as well as a postcard her wrote to his mother Christina Wright.

Physical description: 1 postcard

2 photographs

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.04: Allan Leslie Wright

Scope and content:

This series collects together a small series of telegrams and two photographs related to Allan Leslie Wright.

Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual material

2 photographs

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.05: Kelly Wright

Date: 1933 – 1944 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series contains a collection of photographs of Kelly wright and others, before and during World War II. Also included is a letter from J.H. Quinn of the Alberta Wheat Pool regarding Kelly volunteering for military service.

Physical description: 0.5cm of textual materials

39 photographs

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.06: Wright Siblings and Extended Family

Date: 1901 – 1964 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series contains a collection of photographs depicting the Wright family siblings and extended family in both Canada and the United States.

Physical description: 38 photographs

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.07: Grande Prairie

Date: 1920 – 1952 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series collects together photographs taken around Grande Prairie between 1920 to 1952. Also included is a small book of notes taken while hunting.

Physical description: 39 photographs

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.08: Certificates and Awards

Date: 1945 – 1970 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series contains a set of certificates of membership for Roy Wright and an award for Christina Wright.

Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual materials

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.09: Assorted Scrap Books and Photos

Date: 1932 – 1943 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series collects together scrap books and large assorted photos of wright families members and locations around Grande Prairie and Alberta. Each scrap book covers a different topic including World War II and aviation, hunting and the wilderness, and family events.

Physical description: 272 photographs

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Series 0704.10: Eastside Grocery Ltd.

Date: 1985 – 1993 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series contains financial statements related to the operation and sale of the Eastside Grocery in Grande Prairie, which was run by the Wright family.

Physical description: 1 cm of textual material

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published