University of Wyoming
Carleton Wright (1892-1974) was Vice Admiral of the U.S. Navy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912 as an Ensign. During World War I he was Executive Officer of the destroyer USS Jarvis which laid mines in the North Sea. During World War II he commanded the USS Augusta which operated on patrol duty in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean areas during 1941-1942. He was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism during the Battle of Tassofaronga in the Solomon Islands, and he also received the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. From 1946-1947 he was the General Inspector of the Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean areas and Deputy Commander of the Mariana Islands. He served as Administrator of the Military Government of the former Japanese Mandate in the Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands. From 1947-1948 he was the Deputy High Commisioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
The Carleton Wright papers contains correspondence between Japanese Navy Officers and United States Navy officers regarding their recollections of the Battle of Tassofaronga (1954); comments by Commander Winslow on the struggle for Guadalcanal (1962); certificates (1912-1942); drafts of articles about the culture and living conditions of the natives of the Marshall and Solomon Islands by Vice Admiral Wright (1944-1947); and newspaper clippings about Wright (1947-1971). There are also over 200 official U.S. Navy photographs of the living conditions of the natives of Faraulep, Fonepe, and Yap Islands (1947-1948); an Inspection Report of the Caroline and Marshall Islands (1946); reports on the fifth Battle of Savo of the Solomon Islands Campaign (Nov. 30, 1942); Report on Action Off Cape Esperance the Night of Nov. 3, 1942 from the Commander Task Force 67 to the Commander South Pacific Fleet (Nov. 30, 1942).
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by Carleton Wright at the date of processing.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.