Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Wright Family Fonds |
| Reference code: | 0704 |
| Date: | 1901 – 1993 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 5 cm of textual material
2 volumes 496 photographs |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Roy Willis Wright was born in 1917 in Fraser, Montana moving with his parents Christina and Peter Wright to Grande Prairie, Alberta in 1919. As he grew up in Grande Prairie, being active in a variety of sports, Roy became the eldest of seven siblings (Kelly, Cliff, Peter, Allan, Marie, Agnes).
During World War II Roy volunteered for service, becoming an Air Gunner for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Between 1943 to 1944 Roy participated in 30 missions in Europe, afterwards working as an instructor for the RCAF until the end of the war. His siblings also served including Kelly and Allan Wright (the former killed-in-action during the war).
In 1938 Roy Wright worked at the Nelson and Archibald General Store. After World War II in 1946 he bought shares in the company. He gained ownership of the store in 1957, renaming it the Roy Wright Store, and ran it until selling in 1970. During this period Roy married married Betty Edgar in 1951. The couple had seven children (Patricia, Christine, Susan, Margaret, Barbara, Annabelle, Bill) and ran the store together. In 1970 the couple purchased the East Side Grocery and ran it as a family business until retiring and selling it in 1986.
Roy was involved in a variety of community groups and sports in Grande Prairie, including the chamber of commerce, the Kinsmen and Masonic Lodge, and the Grande Prairie Golf and Country Club. Roy Wright passed away in Grande Prairie on September 12th, 1998 at the age of 81.
Custodial history
The records were collected together by Roy Wright, who passed them to Margaret Wright before donation to the archives.
Scope and content
This fonds contains records about the Wright family and Grande Prairie, collected by Roy Wright. This includes photographs and textual records depicting family members, the Wright General Store and East Side Grocery, World War II, as well as membership in Freemason’s and Kinsmen groups.
Series descriptions
0704.05, Kelly Wright, 1933 – 1944
0704.06, Wright Siblings and Extended Family, 1901 – 1964
0704.07, Grande Prairie, 1920 – 1952
0704.08, Certificates and Awards, 1945 – 1970
0704.09, Assorted Scrap Books and Photos, 1932 – 1943
0704.10, Eastside Grocery Ltd., 1985 – 1993
| Series 0704.01: Roy Wright
Scope and content: This series covers records directly related to Roy Wright. This includes photos and flight logbooks related to his time as a RCAF Air Gunner in World War II, as well as photographs related to his daily life. Physical description: 2 cm of textual materials 2 volumes 103 photographs Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Subseries 0704.01.01: World War II
Date: 1941-1982 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series contains a collection of photographs Roy Wright took while serving in World War II as well as two flight log books that recorded missions and other flights taken by his squadron. Also included is his Royal Canadian Air Force identity card, a postcard of the 15 bomber Squadron RAF, a Royal Canadian Air Force graduation banquet pamphlet, a 1982 Allied Air Forces Reunion registration list, and a narrative written by B. Graham McDonald about Royal Air Force squadrons. Physical description: 68 photographs 1 cm of textual materials Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Subseries 0704.01.02: Daily Life
Date: 1921-1972 (date of creation) Scope and content: This subseries collects together photographs Roy Wright had depicting daily life including spending time with family, hunting, and working at the General Store or at East Side Grocery. Physical description: 33 photographs Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Subseries 0704.01.03: Miscellaneous Photos and Documents
Scope and content: This subseries collects together notebooks written by Roy Wright containing notes and contacts, two miscellaneous photographs, a 1945 electron registration card, and a 1956 individual permit to purchase liquor. Physical description: 2 photographs 2 booklets 0.5 cm of textual material Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.02: Cliff Wright
Scope and content: This series contains a small number of telegrams and a photograph of Cliff Wright in 1944, related to his return from service in World War II. Physical description: 1 photograph 0.5 cm of textual material Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.03: Pete Wright
Date: 1955 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series contains a small number of records related to Pete Wright, including two photos of Pete as well as a postcard her wrote to his mother Christina Wright. Physical description: 1 postcard 2 photographs Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.04: Allan Leslie Wright
Scope and content: This series collects together a small series of telegrams and two photographs related to Allan Leslie Wright. Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual material 2 photographs Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.05: Kelly Wright
Date: 1933 – 1944 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series contains a collection of photographs of Kelly wright and others, before and during World War II. Also included is a letter from J.H. Quinn of the Alberta Wheat Pool regarding Kelly volunteering for military service. Physical description: 0.5cm of textual materials 39 photographs Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.06: Wright Siblings and Extended Family
Date: 1901 – 1964 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series contains a collection of photographs depicting the Wright family siblings and extended family in both Canada and the United States. Physical description: 38 photographs Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.07: Grande Prairie
Date: 1920 – 1952 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series collects together photographs taken around Grande Prairie between 1920 to 1952. Also included is a small book of notes taken while hunting. Physical description: 39 photographs Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.08: Certificates and Awards
Date: 1945 – 1970 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series contains a set of certificates of membership for Roy Wright and an award for Christina Wright. Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual materials Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.09: Assorted Scrap Books and Photos
Date: 1932 – 1943 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series collects together scrap books and large assorted photos of wright families members and locations around Grande Prairie and Alberta. Each scrap book covers a different topic including World War II and aviation, hunting and the wilderness, and family events. Physical description: 272 photographs Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0704.10: Eastside Grocery Ltd.
Date: 1985 – 1993 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series contains financial statements related to the operation and sale of the Eastside Grocery in Grande Prairie, which was run by the Wright family. Physical description: 1 cm of textual material Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |