Wright, Marion A. (Marion Allan), 1894-1983

South Carolina attorney who practiced law in Conway, S.C. and elsewhere; native of Marion; retired to Linville Falls, N.C., ca. 1950; died 1983; Wright was an advocate of public libraries as a tool to improve literacy during the 1930s and 1940s.

From the description of Marion A. Wright papers, 1936-1982. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 30679833

Marion Allan Wright (1894-1983) of South Carolina was an attorney, author, member of the board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union, and civil rights supporter.

From the description of Marion A. Wright papers, 1912-1982 [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 27190296

18 January 1894 Born in Johnston, South Carolina

1910-1914 Attended the University of South Carolina (did not receive degree)

1912-1919 Witnessed South Carolina's first 16 executions by electrocution, as a reporter for the Columbia Record

1914-1915 Taught in the public schools of Winston Salem, North Carolina

1916 Married Lelia Hauser

1919 Received a law degree from the University of South Carolina

1919-1947 Practiced corporate law in Conway, South Carolina

1937-1943 Served as chairman of the Illiteracy Commission

1941-1945 Served as a member of the Enemy Alien Board for South Carolina

1947-1963 Served as board member (1947-1957) and board chairman (1957-1963) of the Penn Community Services, Inc., Frogmore, St. Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina

1948 Moved to Linville Falls, North Carolina

1951-1958 Served as president of the Southern Regional Council

1958-1965 Served as vice-president of the Southern Regional Council

1967 Founded and served as first president of the North Carolinians Against the Death Penalty

1969 Married Alice Norwood Spearman after having been a widower for 13 years

1978 Publication of Human Rights Odyssey, which won the Lillian Smith Award for nonfiction from the Southern Regional Council

1980 Received honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Winthrop College, Rock Hill, South Carolina

14 February 1983 Died at Crossnore, North Carolina

(See also the interview of Wright by Arnold Shankman and biographical materials on Wright in Series 6.)

From the guide to the Marion A. Wright Papers, 1912-1982, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)