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American political figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; appointed Governor General of the Philippines in 1901; 1906-1907 served as the ambassador to Japan; appointed Secretary or War under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1908-1909. Collection includes correspondence, household budgets, invitations, letters of reference, documents, clippings and photographs reflecting aspects of Wright's diplomatic career in the Philippines, Japan and the United States. The bulk of the collection covers Luke and Katherine Wright's lives during their appointment to the Philippines, 1900-1906. Of particular interest are letters from Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft and Leonard Wood.

The collection is arranged in three series: Philippines, Japan and the United States. Under each main series are sub-series of correspondence, documents, clippings and photographs. The majority of material is from the Philippines series. The Philippines series consists of correspondence, documents, clippings and photographs. The majority of correspondence consists of incoming and outgoing letters to Wright with the bulk of letters dating from 1900-1905. Many of the letters are requests for jobs from a variety of military, personal and political contacts from Tennessee and letters of introduction. Letters of interest include correspondence from Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft and Leonard Wood. Included is a typed letter signed by President Theodore Roosevelt informing Wright he would replace Taft as Governor General of the Philippines. The documents sub-series include field reports from various civil government servants in areas outside of Manila. Clippings include an undated supplement from the Manila Times Newspaper. In the photographs sub-series a photograph of the three Philippines Commissioners Luke Wright, William Taft and Henry Ide is included along with two albums of photographs of various events and places in the Philippines. Album One includes interior and exterior views of Malacanan Palace, Wright's official residence in Manila. Album 2 is an assortment of 65 pictures of Philippine landscapes, architecture and indigenous peoples. The Japan series reflects the one year Wright spent as Ambassador to Japan. Correspondence includes letters addressed to his wife Katherine Wright. The documents sub-series include a variety of calling cards or visiting cards as well as invitations to a variety of social and political events. In the clippings sub-series, a scrapbook filled with newspaper articles from various sources highlight Wright's career as the ambassador to Japan. Many articles discuss the topic of Wright's resignation amid a climate of anti-Japanese racism in California. The United States series is the smallest series consisting of one letter dating from 1883, receipts, and the book cover only of the Annual Report of the Secretary of War from 1911.