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Letters

Nice Work
We receive three different alumni magazines, but Oberlin's is by far the best. Both Sandy and I read it from cover to cover. We loved the column by Midge Brittingham (Winter '03-04) and the Bill Seaman tributes. We want to meet Laura Gobbi, but we don't believe there is a "disconnect between the Oberlin of today and the Oberlin of our past." The "Fields of Dreams" article was very well written and illustrated. "Relevant to the Times" was very interesting, and "Wright on Sister" was fascinating. The Bookshelf section makes you want to read many of the books–I've even shared the reviews with others. The Oberlin Alumni Magazine deserves a Pulitzer Prize.
Bob Kabat '49
Alexandria, Va.

The Wright Sister
I enjoyed Doug McInnis' article and accompanying photos about Katharine Wright Haskell. As part of a study of Ohio women for the state's bicentennial celebration, the Elyria branch of the American Association of Uni-versity Women researched Katharine. She was an accomplished woman and important to flight, women's suffrage, and Oberlin. Sadly, the fountain that Harry Haskell donated to Oberlin in her honor is in disrepair. Because of years of neglect, it is now a forlorn lump in front of Allen Memorial Art Museum. It will be quite expensive to renovate the bronze figure, the Italian marble base, and fountain plumbing. Would alumni be interested in raising funds to repair the fountain and provide an endowment to maintain it? Katharine exemplified so much of what is good about Oberlin. It would be wonderful if we could restore her memorial.
Mary Winters Behm '66
Grafton, Ohio

The article on Katharine and her brothers was very interesting. Having attended many math classes in the Wright building, we have wondered about how it was named; we're glad to learn the full story. The article also reminded us of a story passed on by Sue's mother, Willamay Lindsay Evans '20, who told us that she roomed with a niece of the Wright brothers named Lee, and that the Wright brothers helped finance Willamay's own Oberlin education. Since Willamay was known to embellish a good story, we were never sure if it was 100 percent true. But now that we know that Orville visited Oberlin frequently, perhaps it's plausible that he did help Willamay, who was on her way to becoming a Latin teacher. Perhaps you can let us know if a Lee Wright attended Oberlin at the time of Willamay Evans, Class of 1920.
Bob '52 and Sue Evans Whitney '52
Princeton, Mass.

Editor's note: Leontine Wright, who was the daughter of Lorin Wright and niece to Wilbur, Orville, and Katharine, did graduate from Oberlin in 1920. She married John Jameson.

Please confirm that the photograph on page 26 is really that of Katharine and Wilbur Wright in childhood. Both the clothes and haircuts do not look appropriate for the 1890s.
John H. Hoagland '41
East Lansing, Mich.

Editor's note: Several alert readers called attention to the error, and we thank Owen Cramer '62 for setting the record straight. The children, also named Wilbur and Katharine Wright, are actually the grandchildren of the aviators' older brother, Reuchlin. Coincidentally, both are also Oberlin grads. The late Wilbur Herbert Wright, Class of 1942, married Priscilla Stearns, Class of 1942. Katharine Wright Chaffee, who left Oberlin in 1944, lives in Carlsbad, Calif. We apologize for the error.

Excellent article on Katharine Wright. One small note. In the sidebar on page 27 you say that the crankshaft of the engine was made of aluminum. I doubt it! The crankcase certainly, the pistons probably, the connecting rods possibly–but not the crankshaft. You could check with the folks at The Wright Exper-ience (www.wrightexperience.com) who built the replica for more info.
Doug Bauer '62
Denmark, Maine

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