Extent: 1.65 cu. ft. (5 boxes).

This series, 1878-1987, including birth and wedding announcements, certificates, clippings, correspondence, programs, and publications documenting the Wright family of Richmond, Virginia. The bulk of the collection relate to Captain Alexander S. Wright, Chief of Detectives, and John M. Wright, Chief of Police in Richmond. Also included are papers relating to Frank A.S. Wright, Circuit Court judge in Richmond.

The papers of Alexander S. Wright and John M. Wright mainly relate to their careers with the Richmond Police Department. Included are blank police department applications, job appointments and certificates, identification cards, curriculum of the Police Academy training school, training manual for the Department of Safety Bureau of Fire, and memoranda from the City of Richmond. Of note are biographies of Alexander and John Wright. Newspaper clippings are included for Alexander, Frank, and John Wright documenting their legal and police careers.

Topics of Alexander S. Wright's correspondence, 1917-1943, include clarification of laws, letters of appraisal of Wright's work, birthday greetings, and establishment of a victory garden, 1943. John M. Wright's correspondence, 1946-1968, includes congratulatory, retirement, and condolence letters, invitations, and letters of recommendation. Included are letters of recommendation for the Chief of Police job and letters of congratulations when Wright got the job. Correspondents include Mayor Thomas P. Bryan, J. Edgar Hoover, Walter B. Gentry, R. Westwood Winfree, Archer A. Page, W.W. Satterwhite, George C. Wallace, Frank Soden, John B. Tansey, Henry Schwarzschild, James J. Kilpatrick, Thomas J. Bliley, Edward E. Haddock, Charles G. Thalhimer, and James J. Rowley.

Included are programs and articles relating to Manchester; memorial books from the funerals of Alan S. Wright (1977) and Robert T. Wright (1954); newsletters from The Richmond Employees Bulletin (1955) and Henrico Herald (1967); and obituaries. Also included are programs from the Virginia Police Association convention (1939), Basic Police School graduation program (1966), John M. Wright retirement dinner (1968), and the Police-Fireman baseball game (1969). Of note is the Roster and Description of the Police Force City of Richmond, 1878-1885. Included are names of policemen, rank, age, height, date, married status, where born, former occupation, residence, first appointment, when promoted, and remarks. Also includes lists of policemen first and second class.

Publications include The National Police Journal, Virginia Police Journal, and The Richchap. Also included is the Annual Report of the Chief of Police Richmond (1907), Classification in the Virginia Penal System (1950), and Annual Reports from the Dept. of Safety of the City of Richmond (1919-1955).

Arranged alphabetically by folder title with publications arranged to the rear.

Extent: 1.55 cu. ft. (5 boxes and 1 oversize folder).

This series, 1865, ca. 1880-1986, includes numerous photographs of the Richmond Police Department, Alexander S. Wright, John M. Wright, and family and friends. Included are panoramic photographs of groups of policemen, dedication of the Richmond city building and Richmond Public Safety building, memorial service for fallen policemen, conventions and banquets, and various street scenes. Included are numerous publicity and portrait photographs of Alexander S. and John M. Wright. Also included are images of family, friends, vacations, and personal photographs.

Arranged into two subseries: 1. Richmond Police Department Photographs; 2. Family Photographs.

Extent: .25 cu. ft. (1 box).

This series, ca. 1968, includes an audio CD of the retirement dinner for Colonel John M. Wright at the Hotel Jefferson, 12 January 1968. Also includes an unidentified film of Colonel John M. Wright at a police event.