Evening star., 1939-08-06
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

Starting out alone at 16 ito see
the world" with Mexico as first
stop, was the beginning of long
and interesting career for Miss Irene
Wright of the State Department,
who has spent 81 years in historical
research and newspaper work in
Mexico, Cuba and Spain.
Miss Wright, who is chairman of
the Committee on Archival Material
Of the World Center for Women's
Archives, as well as vice president
OF the Washington unit of the CEN
ter, told last week of her early
interest in research, to which she
has devoted most of the years of
her life and In which she has had
experiences riyaling those whose
stories she has sought in the libraries
of the world.
History and geography always
interested me-" she said, land at
16 I decided to see the world, so I
LETT my home in Colorado and went
to Mexico"
Such an expedition would be an
unusual liberty for girl of 16, even
In these days of independent wom-
anhood, but in the 9Os, when Miss
Wright started her career of adven-
ture, such bold move was virtually
unheard of.
Miss Wright laughed in recalling
1t. When my mother realized I
was determined to go her greatest
fear was that I might run short
of funds, so she sewed $500 in gold
coins IN the seam of a flannel pet
ticoat. I wore it on my travels,
ripping the seam every time I was
in need of a coin and then sewing
it up again"
Her gold-seamed petticoat dragged
heavily at first Miss Wright said, but
she didn't worry until the garment
began to grow light. Then I realized
had to return home or find a job"
she said. Il loved Mexico and was
| having wonderful time visiting In
dian ruins and old cathedrals And
I didn't want to go home, although
my mother thought should"
Got Job as Teacher.
1t was at this point that Miss
Wright started a professional career.
| She obtained position as English
teacher with the family of a wealthy
Mexican rancher of Tlaxco, IN one
of the most picturesque provinces in
Mexico. She remained for three
years, teaching English and study
ing Spanish and history.
Then I went home and was sent
| to boarding school," she continued.
After graduating from the Vir-
ginia College for Young Ladies IN
Roanoke, Va, Miss Wright was Of
fered employment in Cuba, so, with
her mother, sailed for Havana,
where the. second chapter started
/ For II years she remained in
Havana, where she was CORE
| spondent for a New York newspa-
per, later starting her own paper,
/ the Cuban News, a weekly written
in English for Americans.
Il started my paper on $50 and 1t
was success the first! week" she
related. The society column was
particularly popular"
FROM newspaper work Miss Wright
went into magazine publishing,
owning and editing the Cuban Mag
azine. which carried news and items
of interest to farmers About this
time she commenced research into
Cuban history, which later carried
her to Spain.
Miss Wright and her mother went
to Seville, Spain, expecting to stay
year. and her work proved so
successful that she remained %
years.
The archives of the Indies are
kept in Seville" she explained, "and
it is the great storehouse of his
tory for Latin America"
Wrote Several Books.
In Seville Miss Wright collected
material and wrote several books
on the early history of Cuba and
the countries of the Caribbean.