Daniel E. Wright Papers
Scope and Content
The collection consists of materials from 1903 to 1973 with the bulk from the 1940s and 1950s. This collection contains reports, speeches, magazine and newspaper articles, and correspondence concerning Daniel E. Wright's travels and sanitation work in the Panama Canal, Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East.
During this period Wright pioneered the use of DDT to control malaria, dysentery, and other endemic diseases afflicting the Greek population. Collection contains materials dealing with the Panama Canal, the public health activities of the Rockefeller Foundation, and the UNRRA and the UNPHS. Also includes extensive correspondence to his family while a colonel on the staff of Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell and later of the U.S. Middle Eastern Command Headquarters in Cairo, and photographs (ca. 250) from his travels.
Dates
- 1903 - 1973
Creator
- Wright, Daniel E. (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
Born in Winchester, Virginia, Daniel E. Wright recieved a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1904. He went on to participate in the construction of the Panama Canal and in the public health activities which rid the Canal Zone of yellow fever and malaria. In 1921, Wright was awarded the Theodor Roosevelt Medal of Honor for this work in the Canal Zone. He then served as a consultant (1921-29) for the Columbian and Panamanian governments, joined the staff of the Rockefeller Foundation in 1929, and worked in Greece and Turkey on water supply and disease control. Wright also worked with the United Nations Public Health Service (UNPHS) in Burma during World War II, before joining the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) from 1944 until 1949.
Extent
2.5 Cubic Feet (3 boxes)
Abstract
This collection contains materials dealing with the Panama Canal, the public health activities of the Rockefeller Foundation, the United Nations Public Health Service, and the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. Also includes correspondence to and from Daniel E. Wright while a colonel on the staff of Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell and at the U.S. Middle Eastern Command Headquarters in Cairo, as well as photographs from his travels.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject matter.
Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated to the Special Collections prior to 1968 and in 1968, 1969, and 1970.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Daniel E. Wright Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Daniel E. Wright Papers commenced in August 2006 and was completed in September 2006. Preliminary processing took place in 2001.
- Title
- Daniel E. Wright Papers, 1903-1973
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections and University Archives Staff
- Date
- 2006 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu