October program
petes...@juno.com
Steven J. Wright
As the "largest freshwater body in the world", Lake Superior has been the
scene of hundreds of shipwrecks, beginning with the very first vessel to
ply its waters. This illustrated program discusses some of the most
harrowing shipping disasters to occur on lake Superior, and culminates
with the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzerald, on November 10, 1975 with a
loss of all twenty nine hands.
Made famous by Gordon Lightfoot's epic song of the same name, the SS
Edmund Fitzerald was lost during one of the worst storms ever to strike
Lake Superior. This illustrated program tells the story of the last
minutes of the "Fitz", and includes videotape and slides of the wreck
today as it lies more than 700 feet below the surface of Lake Superior.
Steven J. Wright is Curator for the Civil War Library and Museum here in
Center City Philadelphia, and a free lance writer and research historian.
He has written for "the Gettysburgh Magazine", "the Civil War Library
and Museum", "the Franklin Mint", "the Custer Battlefield Historical
Museum Association", is a regular book reviewer for "the Civil Car News",
and "the Courier" and has authored more than two hundred reviews and
articles on historical subjects ranging from Lake Superior shipwrecks to
the Civil War and the battle of the Little Big Horn. His book, "the
Irish Brigade", was released in 1992. Wright is a contributor to a
forthcoming book on the famed Iron Brigade, which is about to be
published by the University of Indiana Press, and wrote the introduction
to the recently published "Battle Flags of the Union Armies". While
history is his life's work, Mr. Wright is a dedicated fly fisherman and
amateur artist.
Mr. Wright was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin and grew up in Silver Bay,
Minnesota, where he graduated from William M. Kelly High School. He
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John's University (Minnesota)
and a Master of Arts degree in American History and American Indian
Studies from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. For twenty years he has
worked for local historical societies, private museums and the national
park Service; including four years as a seasonal ranger at Gettysburgh
National Military Park. Wright has spoken before numerous schools, civic
and historical groups, as well as Civil War round Tables and the Little
Big Horn Symposium. He is a member of the Company of Military
Historians, which he serves as Vice President of Publications and is
former President of Old Baldy Civil War round Table of Philadelphia.
Mr. Wright lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Irene, a children's
librarian with the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Mr. Wright will address the Delaware Valley Mensa at its October 9th
meeting to be held at the Friends Meeting House at the south east corner
of 4th and Arch streets. The meeting will begin at 8pm. There is free
parking on the grounds off of 4th street. There is a $3 cover charge to
help cover the cost of refreshments, which will be available after the
question and answer period.
Before the meeting, at 6pm, the Pre General Meeting Dinner Group will
gather at a local restaurant for dinner, socializing and converse with
Mr. Wright in a more intimate environment. RSVP's are required for the
dinner and contact Steve Slepner for the name of the restaurant and to
reserve your place.
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