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National Anthropological Archives
Hamilton Wright Jr. photographs, circa 1923-1925, 1950-1970
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NAA.PhotoLot.76-35
- Creators:
-
Wright, Hamilton M., Jr.
- Dates:
-
circa 1923-1925, 1950-1970
- Languages:
-
Undetermined.
- Physical Description:
-
4,700 Color slidescirca250 Lantern slidescirca500 Color transparenciescirca7 Color printstheatrical motion picture one-sheets9 Printssilver gelatin
- Repository:
Scope and Contents note
Scope and Contents note
Photographs made by Hamilton Wright Jr. in Egypt, South Africa, India, Lebanon, Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, Hong Kong, Holland, Italy, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Haiti, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Alaska, Colorado, and New Hampshire. They include images of modern and ancient structures and monuments, artifacts, industries, cities, markets, caves, festivals, beaches, scenery, and sporting events. Most appear to have been made for the Hamilton Wright Organization, an international agency that made films and photographs to support public relations campaigns of foreign governments. Also included are some lantern slides depicting historical sites in Egypt, directed by Hamilton Wright, Sr., and one-sheets for motion picture films produced by the Hamilton Wright Organization. Additional material includes slide narration for a lecture and short news stories relating to the images in the collection.
Biographical/Historical note
Biographical/Historical note
In 1908, Hamilton Wright Sr. founded the Hamilton Wright Organization, a public relations firm that specialized in making travelog and newsreel film and distributing it to motion picture houses around the world, often on behalf of domestic and foreign governments. Wright's son, Hamilton Wright Jr., managed the company after his father and expanded it's work. In 1963, a Senate committee criticized the Hamilton Wright Organization for hosting press junkets and distributing its photographs, newsreels, and stories in American news media without reporting its sources. The Hamilton Wright Organization was closed by Hamilton Wright Jr.'s son in the late 1960s.
Administration
Author
Sarah Ganderup
Custodial History note
Hamilton Wright began donating parts of the collection in 1975. Final donation was made by Wright's widow, Frances Purdy Wright, and son, Hamilton Wright Jr. in 1987.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Preferred Citation note
Photo lot 76-35, Hamilton Wright Jr. photographs, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Location of Other Archival Materials
Location of Other Archival Materials
Films by the Hamilton Wright Organization can be found in the Human Studies Film Archive in HSFA 94.19.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The Film and Television Archive at the University of California at Los Angeles holds the motion picture film and related material of the Hamilton Wright Organization.
More Information
Local Call Number(s)
Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 76-35
Other Finding Aids note
Other Finding Aids note
Partial inventory available in repository
Keywords
National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
naa@si.edu