What happens when students at the University of Portland forget to return their books before graduating? For alum Robert Wright (‘66), those books travel the world for decades before winding up back at Clark Library.
“Every move is to the next place, not Portland,” Wright said. “England, Germany, Hawaii… [the overdue book] followed my career, kind of quietly off to the side.”
Last year, Wright contacted Clark Library about returning a book he checked out as a sophomore physics major in 1963. The book was “Physical Optics” by Robert W. Wood, a required textbook for a class taught by physics professor Brother Godfrey Vassallo CSC.
Vassallo’s signature marks the inside cover, and the overdue book can be found on a second-floor display in the Serres room of Clark Library.
Robert Wright (left) holding the book "Physical Optics" by Robert W. Wood with the Interim Dean of Clark Library, Christina Prucha. Wright returned the book after 61 years of it in his possession. Photo courtesy of Robert Wright
Interim Dean of Clark Library Christina Prucha says Wright was glad to bring “Physical Optics” back to campus and is pleased the library no longer charges fines for overdue books.
According to Wright, he would have owed around $5,000 had the charges come back to him.
Returning the book slipped Wright’s mind in 1963, and was forgotten by librarians in a time before digital information systems could follow student accounts.
In his career as a meteorologist for the United States Air Force, Wright and his family called many places their home before returning to Portland for Wright and his wife’s retirement.
As the couple sorted through storage in preparation for downsizing, Wright discovered the University of Portland label on a book’s back cover.
“It almost ended up in Goodwill,” Wright said. “But either guilt or nostalgia swept over me.”
Wright’s recent trip to Clark Library wasn’t his first campus visit since his graduation. As a member of the Mitchell Rifles Drill Team and a track and field athlete, Wright has been no stranger at alum reunions.
“I owe my Air Force success to the Mitchells,” Wright said. “The morale, the discipline, I think that soaked into all of us. A lot of us made colonel and kept up with each other in the Air Force.”
According to Wright, the Mitchell Rifles swept a three-part drill competition his freshman year for all ROTC teams West of the Mississippi, earning them three trophies and a bundle of pride.
In addition to drilling for the Mitchell Rifles, Wright ran track all four years, worked as a checker at Albertsons and dated his future wife while completing his physics major.
Robert Wright and his wife, Janice Olson stand outside their duplex after Wright's graduation in 1966. Photo courtesy of Robert Wright
Wright’s wife, Janice Wright, was an English major at the University. Wright calls himself the “nerdy science type” and attributes all his literary endeavors to her.
In retirement, Wright began sharing his stories through self-published novels. “The Brass” by Wright is now available for check-out at Clark Library.
In returning his overdue physics textbook, Wright opened a treasure trove of rekindling connections and sharing stories.
“Undergraduate [school] is where you make friendships, some you marry and some are good friends for life,” Wright said. “[Returning to campus] was like coming home, and I have fond memories of the place.”
The words on the page aren’t the only story a book has to tell when it has stayed with someone for 61 years.
Clara Pehling is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at pehling28@up.edu.
