Guide to the Charles Alan Wright papers at the Tarlton Law Library: Part 1

Historical Background

Charles Alan Wright was born on September 3, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After receiving his B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1947, Wright earned his law degree from Yale Law School in 1949. From Yale Wright went on to clerk for Judge Charles E. Clark of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Wright's first teaching job came in 1950 at the University of Minnesota. In 1955, Wright accepted a professorship at the University of Texas, teaching courses in Federal Courts, Constitutional Law, and a seminar on the Supreme Court. During his tenure at the University of Texas, Wright authored Federal Practice and Procedure and became a well-known expert on Constitutional Law and Federal Courts. Wright is best known nationally for his involvement in the legal defense of President Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal. President Nixon summoned Wright to Washington in 1973 to argue against releasing the White House tapes on the principle of executive privilege. Wright argued twelve cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and won ten of those cases. Wright's most prominent cases were San Antonio School District v. Rodriguez (1973), in which he argued on behalf of the San Antonio Independent School District's plan for financing its public schools, and Hughes Tool Co. v. TWA (1973), in which he argued for the reversal of a judgment against Howard Hughes. Wright was first elected to the American Law Institute (ALI) in 1958 and worked on many of its projects involving the restatements of the law. In 1993, Wright was elected President of the ALI, a position he would hold until his death. Notable members of the ALI such as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg held Wright in high regard for his leadership during his presidency. Wright was also a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States and participated on many of its Rules Committees. Other professional organizations Wright belonged to included the American Bar Association, the Association of American Law Schools, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Infractions Committee. Throughout his tenure at the University of Texas, Wright was involved with the Faculty Council and the Athletic Council. Wright's passion for athletics was best demonstrated through the Legal Eagles, the Law School intramural football team that Wright founded in 1955. Wright coached the Legal Eagles from 1955 to 1990, when he became athletic director. Wright held the position of athletic director until his death. The Legal Eagles amassed a record of 330 wins, 44 losses, and 5 ties throughout Wright's 45 year involvement. Wright was also heavily involved with the greater Austin community. He served on the governing boards of both the St. Andrews Episcopal School and the St. Stephens Episcopal School. He was a strong advocate for integration while on the board of St. Stephens School during a time when that stance was not universally popular in Austin. In addition, Wright also served in various capacities with the Austin Lyric Opera and the classical radio station KMFA. Wright attained Emeritus faculty status in 1997 and also was the first professor to hold the Charles Alan Wright chair in Federal Courts in the same year. He had previously been the Charles McCormick Professor of Law and later held the William Bates Chair for the Administration of Justice. He continued to teach until his death on July 7, 2000.

Contents of the Collection

Correspondence, minutes, memoranda, creative works, court documents, transcripts, audio/visual materials, printed materials, and artifacts measuring 486 linear feet and spanning from 1927 to 2004, illustrating the career and life of Professor Charles Alan Wright. The Watergate series primarily consists of newspaper clippings, correspondence, and court documents surrounding President Nixon's decision to withhold the White House tapes on the principle of executive privilege. Later correspondence regarding Watergate often entails Wright's refusal to discuss the case due to attorney-client confidentiality. The American Law Institute series is further differentiated between correspondence, work files, and organization files and spans the time from his election as a member in 1958 until the end of his presidency at the time of his death in 2000. The University of Texas series includes the many organizations and committees that Wright participated in as a faculty member, both for the School of Law and the University as a whole. Wright's Publication files are divided into Legal Texts, Book Reviews, Mystery Reviews, and Essays. A significant portion of the collection is devoted to the Legal Files, which consists of briefs, memoranda, motions, and other court documents from the many cases that Wright worked or consulted on during his career. Personal Correspondence spans Wright's entire career and highlights his relationships with many prominent individuals. Wright's correspondence with organizations and institutions pertaining to his law career is documented in the Professional Correspondence and Office Files series. The final part of the collection contains photographs, audio/visual materials and artifacts that Wright had earned and accumulated throughout his career.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Access to portions of the papers and related materials is closed or restricted. In those cases, written permission may be necessary before viewing the files. Included among materials to which access is restricted are (without restriction) student papers and materials from the Gunnar Gjerstad and E.L. Koschmeider cases. Photocopying of materials may also be restricted and may require written permissions.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Cite As

Charles Alan Wright Papers, Tarlton Law Library, University of Texas at Austin.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Charles Alan Wright and Charles Alan Wright family, 2001, 2002, 2004

Processing History

Processed by Brian Boswell, 2006-2007

Detailed Description of the Collection