Orville Wright’s Personal Bank Account Book—1931–1948, Ending on the Day of His Death

An extraordinary personal financial record belonging to Orville Wright, co-inventor with his brother Wilbur of the world’s first successful powered airplane. Issued by The Winters National Bank of Dayton, Ohio, this original green-covered passbook identifies the depositor as: Orville Wright 15 N. Broadway The account begins on October 27, 1931, and continues through January 30, 1948—the very day Orville Wright died. Its thirty-six filled ledger pages, containing hundreds of dated financial entries, provide an unusually extensive record of Wright’s financial activity during the final sixteen years of his life. The address written beneath Wright’s name adds particular historical importance. 15 North Broadway was connected with Orville Wright’s private Dayton laboratory and office, where he continued his scientific and engineering investigations after the pioneering flights at Kitty Hawk and the conclusion of the Wright Company’s commercial operations. The ledger records numerous deposits, checks and adjusted balances, some involving substantial sums. According to an earlier accompanying description, the entries on the first page alone total approximately $152,764.46—a remarkable amount for the period. The book may offer valuable research opportunities concerning Wright’s investments, business interests and financial life during his later years. The account’s concluding date is especially poignant. Orville Wright suffered a heart attack in January 1948 and died in Dayton on January 30, 1948, at the age of seventy-six. The final recorded entry is dated that same day, bringing this extensive personal financial record to a close at the end of Wright’s life. The handwritten account name and financial entries appear to have been entered by bank personnel and are not represented as Orville Wright’s autograph. The book’s historical importance lies in its direct association with Wright, its laboratory address, its exceptional sixteen-year run of financial information and its apparent Wright-family or estate provenance. Condition is good for an extensively used financial record. The green flexible cover shows edge rubbing and wear, particularly around the die-cut account-name window. The interior front lining has tears, creasing and areas of loss. The ledger pages remain generally intact and legible, displaying expected toning, handling and occasional marks. A remarkable primary-source artifact documenting the private financial affairs of one of the principal inventors of the airplane—from the depths of the Great Depression through World War II and ending on the day of his death. Institution: The Winters National Bank, Dayton, Ohio Account holder: Orville Wright Address: 15 N. Broadway, Dayton Dates: October 27, 1931–January 30, 1948 Contents: Approximately 36 completed pages, about 20 entries per page Condition: Good, with cover wear and interior paper losses as photographed Provenance: Wright family Miller estate sale.