Wilbur and Orville Wright's hometown of Dayton, Ohio celebrated their accomplishments in a two-day major event on June 17th and 18th of 1909. The posters and programs prepared for that celebration are popular collectables today, and the subject of this post. As with all my other posts, I'll continue to add related information to this post, so if the subject is of interest, check back occasionally for any updates.
Wright Brothers Home Celebration Poster
The Walker Litho. Co. in Dayton printed posters for the event that are highly desirable today and sought by Wright enthusiasts. Those that come to the market are not inexpensive, and there are alternatives available for us with lesser available spare change, such as smaller poster reproduction reprints. The posters printed in 1909 were roughly 31.5" by 22". I am not aware of the total production run, or how the posters were distributed.
The following list includes seven of the surviving posters printed by the Walker Litho. Co. for the Wright Celebration that have either been made available for purchase, or are in the hands of collectors. There are likely more within displays or archives of museums or universities, and further research will be required to identify those examples. Additionally, there are likely posters within the family heirlooms of Wright descendants, others associated with the Wright family, and aviation collectors in general.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One.
Artcurial in Paris, France, October 12, 2008, offered a Wright's Celebration poster at auction, with estimated value given at 13,000 to 15,000 EUR ($13,905 to $17,382). Dimensions were listed as 79 X 53 cm (31.1" x 20.1"). The item sold for 14,870 EUR ($17,234). The smaller width of 20.1" in lieu of 22" is likely due to trimming of the border paper to either fit in a frame, or to remove damaged portions which tend to occur along the paper edges.
 |
| Artcurial, Paris, France, Oct 12, 2008. Note the distinguishing line down under the 1 and 8. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two.
Louis Crittenden Walker founded the Walker and Walker Printing Company, initially partnered with his brother Harry Baldwin Walker. The firm began as a small print shop in 1874. In 1890, the firm's name was changed to The Walker Lithographing and Printing Company with Louis as President, and Harry as Secretary and treasurer. The Dayton firm produced the poster for the Wright celebration. In 1922, Harry sold out his interests in the company to Louis, and Louis's son Earl H. Walker was Secretary and treasurer. (1) (2)
Louis C. Walker died November 8, 1941, having served 65 years as President of The Walker Lithographing Company, a deacon at First Baptist Church, and past member of the Aeronautical Association. He was buried at Woodland Cemetery. His brother Harry died February 5, 1930. (3) (4)
On July 25, 2009, the great-grandson of Harry Baldwin Walker, appeared on Antique Roadshow with the family's copy of the Wright Celebration poster. The appraiser, Nicholas Lowry, gave a value of $6000 in the current condition, but with professional restoration, he suggested the value could reach between $12,000 and $18,000.
 |
| Walker family poster as appraised on Antique Roadshow, July 25, 2009. Photo courtesy of Antique Roadshow. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three.
Poster Auctions International Inc. provided in November 18, 2012 a poster which did not sell. The poster was estimated at $25,000 to $30,000. The poster was given the dimensions of 22" by 31 7/8" and described as having slight tears primarily in top and bottom text areas. This same poster was then offered by Swann Auction Galleries the next year, 2013.
 |
| Poster Auctions International sale November 18, 2012 |
The Swann Auction Galleries item description indicated poster dimensions at 31.5" by 22", "repaired tears and restored losses at edges; overpainting in margins; creases, abrasions and restoration in image." The resolution of the photo is not sufficient to examine these repairs. The poster sold for $35,000 including buyers premium (BP) on October 18, 2013.
This price did not set a precedent, as this same poster was offered again November 3, 2021 by Bonhams, and sold for a considerably lower bid at $12,750 including BP. The Bonhams description read, "Original lithographic poster, 800 x 556 mm [31.5" x 21.9"], linen-backed with some expert repairs."
 |
| Sold by Swann Auction Galleries, October 18, 2013, $35,000. |
 |
| Poster was then resold by Bonhams, November 3, 2021, $12,750 (includes BP). |
 | |
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four.
Poster Auctions International Inc. provided in May 3, 2015 yet another poster which did not sell. The poster was estimated at $20,000 to $25,000, given the dimensions of 22" by 31 7/8" and described as having slight tears primarily in top and bottom text areas, and folds. The low resolution of the photo makes it impossible to discern where the folds and tears exist.
 |
| Poster Auctions International May 3, 2015 auction. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Five.
This example is as pictured on page 101 of "The Wright Brothers Legacy", by Walt Burton & Owen Findsen (2003, Dayton Art Institute). No information is given as to the owner or location of the item. The book sleeve indicates, "The images in this book are culled from perhaps the largest private collection of Wright Brother photographs in existence, and supplemented with images in the collection of the Library of Congress and Wright State University. In addition to photographs, there are stereopticon images, vintage postcards, documents, and other memorabilia. This visual trove forms the basis of a touring exhibition originated by the Dayton Art Institute."
Walt Burton had a website wrightbrothersposters.com, which is no longer in existence. Per The Cincinnati Enquirer, "Burton is a Cincinnati collector and dealer in vintage photography; Findsen is an Ohio historian and former Enquirer art critic". Burton compiled a sizable collection of Wright memorabilia, obtaining the collection of William Preston Mayfield photographs amongst many other items. In 2003 it was reported, "Today, the Mayfield collection is enhanced by 400 vintage postcards, 59 books, 100 vintage tear sheets, 300 or so photos and a 2-foot-high stack of research photocopied from an assortment of sources." (5)
Though not identified as such, I assume the poster below is within Walt's personal collection.
 |
| Wright Celebration poster as pictured in The Wright Brothers Legacy. |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six.
In Fred C. Fisk and Marlin W. Todd's 1990 book "The Wright Brothers from Bicycle to Biplane", the authors mention concerning this poster, "Evelyn and Irvin Himebaugh, who lives in the Dayton area have an original in their collection." Irvin was an electrician, and had worked at NCR for decades. He was also a collector, and owned Wise & Associates, Auctioneers/Appraisers/Realtors. I was told by a good friend of Irvin's that Irvin performed electrical work at Orville Wright's former home, Hawthorn Hill, while it was under ownership by NCR. During this time, Irvin was gifted a number of Wright items from the Wright family, which I assume was through Harold and Ivonette Wright Miller. Amongst the items was a Wright Celebration poster. Evelyn passed away April 23, 1991. Irvin passed away June 7, 1995. Irvin's friend then acquired the poster and other Wright collectables from Irvin's estate after his passing. I in turn, was fortunate to acquire a number of items from this collection directly from Irvin's friend in 2014. I viewed the poster, and wish I had taken a photo of it, as it was beautiful, displayed and protected in a glassed picture frame constructed by Irvin. Dealing with a struggling business at the time, I did not have it in my budget to purchase the poster. Sadly, Irvin's friend passed away suddenly in 2017. I assume the poster remains with his family.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seven.
The Omnibus Gallery, Aspen, Colorado has the example pictured below for sale.
 |
| Poster can be distinguished from others by its fold marks, diagonal mark above Orville's head, small color loss in paper bottom right corner of Text box between the brothers. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wright Brothers Home Celebration Committee Poster
In the Greater Dayton June 1909 magazine issue, a smaller poster of Wilbur and Orville was pictured, and identified as being made for the Wright Brother's Committee.
 |
| Greater Dayton June 1909, "This Poster made for Wright Brother's Committee". Author's copy. |
More research is required to determine if this poster was made for each member of the Wright Brother's Committee, or if just the one poster was produced. As stated in The Wright Brothers Legacy, "The Wright Brother's nephew, Milton Wright, built this model of the 1903 Kitty Hawk Flyer for display during the Dayton festivities. The model was later displayed at Saks department store in New York City."
See related post- Wilbur and Orville's nephew Milton and his Wright Flyer Models
 |
| Photo courtesy of the Dayton Art Institute, as printed in The Wright Brothers Legacy, Walt Burton & Owen Findsen, 2003. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wright Brothers Home Celebration Programs
A number of program types were produced for the celebration, printed as brochures, or within pages of magazines or newspapers.
1. Chamber of Commerce magazine published monthly, "Greater Dayton", June 1909 issue. Program is printed within magazine. The issue was available prior to the June 17, 18 event. Reproductions of the front cover are available for sale on E-bay. I was fortunate to purchase the issue below, but it is the only one I've spotted on E-bay over the past decade.
 |
| Greater Dayton June 1909 issue with program, Author's copy. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Dayton Daily News printed programs of June 16, 1909.
 |
| Programs within the Wright Brother's scrapbook, courtesy of Dayton Montgomery County Library Wright Brother Archives. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Complete Program (Unofficial)
The Complete Program booklet, 8.75" by 6" contains 16 pages, not including the cover, published by Kerr-Geyer-Tyroler, Patterson Bldg, Dayton, Ohio. There is much advertisements within the booklet, yet the issue was sold to the public for 10 cents. Pictures of the Wright family members and of Charlie Taylor appear in the pages of the issue, along with pictures of Wright Flyers, their home at 7 Hawthorn, and the Cycle Shop location at 1127 West Third (identified as the Aeroplane Factory). Refer to my related post on the Wright Celebration (link at end of this post) for view of pictures within this program.
 |
| Author's copy. |
 |
| Schedule of events for June 17 & 18 within the program booklet. Author's copy. |
 |
| Sold by Yardly Antiques June 25, 2018, $490 |
 |
| Sold by RR Auction, December 9, 2020, $656 including BP |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Official Program of Events
The Official Program provided through the Wright Brother's Committee contained no advertisements, and no price tag was indicated. I don't know how these were distributed. Perhaps provided to those who purchased seats.
O. B. Kneisly, a dentist in Dayton, served on the Charter Commission in developing Dayton's City Manager Plan, after the Dayton 1913 flood. He served with Lorin Wright on the City Commission in the early 1920's. He assembled a scrapbook with newspaper clippings and other ephemera from 1906 through 1918. Within the scrapbook he included an Official Program of the Wright Brothers Home Celebration, preserved in excellent condition within the pages of the scrapbook (now in the Author's archives). The program measures 9" by 6", and is a single printed 9" by 12" page folded in half, semi-gloss finish. I do not recall seeing another official program offered this past decade.
 |
| Author's copy. |
 |
| Author's copy. |
 |
| Official Program within the Wright Brother's scrapbook, courtesy of Dayton Montgomery County Library Wright Brother Archives. |
 |
| Official Program as pictured on wrightbrothers.org |
 |
| Official Program as pictured on PICRYL |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wright Brother Celebration Announcement
Though not a poster or program, the announcement of the event is of interest. These measured 6" by 3", printed on newsprint paper, and made available to advertise the upcoming event, prepared through The Wright Bros. Committee. Likely these were made available at various retail establishments throughout the City. Likely thousand would have been printed, but as the announcement is printed on thin newsprint, and perhaps not something that would have been saved by many, it may not be a common item today.
 |
| Wright Bros. Home Celebration announcement within Wright Brothers scrapbook. |
 |
| Wright Bros. Home Celebration Announcement, Author's copy. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wright Brothers Celebration Postcard
Monochrome postcards 5.25" by 3.75" were printed by J. J Keyes of Dayton Ohio of the larger multi-colored poster image. These occasionally become available on E-bay. Be careful to obtain an original printed in 1909 in lieu of a modern reprint. Modern reprints are available in full color.
 |
| Wright Brothers Celebration postcard duplicating design of poster. Author's copy. |
 |
| Wright Brothers Celebration postcard back, J. J. Keyes. Author's copy. |
 |
| Postcard as depicted on Smithsonian Nat'l Air and Space Museum website, sited as gifted by Kenneth A. Vogel, 2018. |
 |
| 2015, September 20, Gem-Mint Auctions, Sold for $20. 1909 Postcard, mailed June 12, 1909. This card is in poor condition. Value would increase, of course, with condition. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wright Brothers Home Celebration Reprint Posters
For those of us who can not afford the genuine 1909 Wright Celebration posters, there are modern reprints available. In lieu of these, I sought after an older lithograph version. This poster was purchased by the seller in 1993 from an elderly collector who obtained the majority of his collection in the 1940's through the 1960's. I purchased this poster in 2012. 16.5" by 11" on heavy stock paper.
 |
| 16.5" by 11" Lithograph, exact printing date unknown. Author's collection. |
 |
| Closeup of poster. |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many more collectables are available associated with the 1909 Wright Brothers Home Celebration, including various medals, postcard scenes, letters, and original Dayton newspapers printed during the week of the June 17th-18th, 1909 event. Postcards with eyewitness descriptions included by the senders are cool, and I've shown a number of those on my previous post on the Celebration; link below.
 |
| Letter written June 15, 1909, the week of the Wright Celebration, "Dear Brother:- I received your short letter this morning and was glad to hear you are coming home for the celebration. the Store will not close only for the Parade. friday afternoon. but can make arrangements to have a good time, bring lots of money and I will do the rest. tell your Firm to go to ---- as you are on the way to Dayton, the wide awake town of the middle west. to take a ride in a air Ship. Your ETC. Walter." From Author's collection. |
Copyright 2025-Getting the Story Wright
Related Post-
The Wright Brothers 1909 Celebration, Dayton Ohio
Notes:
- The Dayton Herald, August 1, 1896, "Commercial Dayton. A Comprehensive History Of the Industrial Growth Of the Gem City".
- Dayton Daily News, November 25, 1923, "Dayton in First Rank As Industrial Center- Walker Lithographing Co.".
- The Journal Herald, November 9, 1941, "Rites Monday".
- Ancestry.com Walker Family Tree.
- The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 29, 2003, "Inventing Flight".
