Women aviator photographs, 1920-1939, 1950-1959

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Summary

Abstract:
The women aviator photographs consist of eleven photographic prints depicting several women who were trailblazers that overcame the various social and economic barriers preventing women from participating in aviation. The collection features a mix of individual portraits and group shots of women aviators standing in front of their crafts or behind the cockpit. Included are photographs of Alicia Patterson, an American aviatrix who, accompanied by Elizabeth Chase of Chicago, flew from Sydney to Darwin, Australia; Richarda Morrow-Tait, the first woman pilot to circumnavigate the globe; Marjorie Crawford, an early female aviator from Los Angeles who was a member of the Ninety-Nines, a woman pilot's club headed by Amelia Earhart; and Luba Philipps of Russia, who set an unofficial highest altitude flight record at 11,000 feet. Ten of the eleven photographs in the collection were created during the 1920s and 1930s. The last photograph, taken in Cuba, is dated in the 1950s.
Extent:
0.02 Linear Feet 1 pamphlet binder
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Women aviator photographs, Collection no. 6285, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Background

Scope and content:

The women aviator photographs consist of eleven photographic prints depicting several women who were trailblazers that overcame the various social and economic barriers preventing women from participating in aviation. The collection comprises eleven black and white silver gelatin photographs. Ten of the eleven photographs in the collection were created during the 1920s and 1930s. The last photograph, taken in Cuba, is dated in the 1950s.

The photographs depict women in their flight jackets, aviator hats, and are often seated in the cockpit with hands on the gears or standing out front of their planes. Aviators pictured in the collection include Alicia Patterson in her flight suit with press caption: "Sydney, Australia. Alicia Patterson, well known American Aviatrix, who, accompanied by Elizabeth Chase of Chicago, left here yesterday, January 6th, to fly to Darwin, North Australia, 1,960 miles away." After this historic flight, Patterson went on to found the Pulitzer-Prize winning publication, Newsday. The photograph of Patterson is dated on the verso: "R-1-7-31" [January 7, 1931]. Another photograph features Richarda Morrow-Tait, the first woman pilot to circumnavigate the globe. Two other photographs feature Marjorie Crawford, an early female aviator from Los Angeles who was one of the first women aviators, active during the early 1930s into the late 1930s. Morrow-Tait was a member of the Ninety-Nines, a women pilots club headed by Amelia Earhart, which sought to ensure "good fellowship, jobs, and a central office and files on women in aviation." Another photograph features Luba Philipps of Russia, with a caption on the verso stating she set an unofficial highest altitude flight record at 11,000 feet.

Biographical / historical:

Legislative barriers as well as social and economic factors made it nearly impossible for women to participate in early aviation, making these photos rare glimpses into the lives of powerful women who overcame these barriers. Women have been flying powered aircrafts since 1908 -- allowing women to travel alone on unprecedented journeys. However, most women aviators were restricted to working privately or in support roles in the aviation industry. The photographs in this collection document a moment in history when women were beginning to excel in aviation. By 1930 there were 200 women pilots, but by 1935 there were between 700 and 800 licensed women pilots, with a major breakthrough due to allowing women to race against men.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Max Rambod Rare Books, March 2024.
Physical description:
Eleven black and white silver gelatin photographs. The photographs measure between 8" x 10" and 2" x 3", with most around 7" x 8.25". Some of the photographs have minor chipping along their edges, but overall the photographs are in good condition.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection stored off-site. Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Collections at specol@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Women aviator photographs, Collection no. 6285, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Location of this collection:
Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library, Room 209
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189, US
Contact:
(213) 740-5900
specol@usc.edu
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