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Richey (Helen) Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10118
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Helen Richey Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10118
Physical Description:
1 Cubic Feet
3 Archival Boxes
Date (inclusive): 1909-1947
Abstract: Helen Richey was the first female pilot to be hired to fly by a commercial scheduled passenger carrier on December 13, 1934
with Central Airlines.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
This collection contains approximately one cubic foot of material in three boxes including correspondences, flight lesson
diary, photos, newspaper clippings, flight charts, and ATA publications. The collection primarily covers the periods of 1934-1945.
Helen Richey, born on November 12, 1909 in McKeesport, PA, began her flying career as a teenager out of high school. In 1929
she became the first licensed female pilot in Allegheny County. In August 1932, Richey and Frances Marsalis set a new women's
endurance when the pair stayed aloft for almost ten days. In May 1934, Richey won the main race at the first National Air
Meet for Women in Dayton.
Richey was the first female pilot to be hired to fly by a commercial scheduled passenger carrier on December 13, 1934 with
Central Airlines. Although she won the job after competing with eight men, the Airline Pilots Association and the Department
of Commerce, in a case of gross sex discrimination, forced her out. She resigned in November 1935. Her resignation triggered
a noisy battle over women's rights. Women were not to become airline pilots again until 1973.
In 1936, Richey, with Amelia Earhart came in fifth place in the Bendix Trophy Race from New York City to Los Angeles, and,
by doing so bested several male pilots. She was an air-marking pilot for the Bureau of Air Transport and set two world records
for light planes. Later, she became the first woman to be licensed as a flight instructor by the CAA. Richey was a member
of both the WASPs and the Ninety• Nines. She died at age 37 on January 7, 1947.
Women of Flight Special Collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women Airforce Service Pilots
All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (ATWAR)
Powder Puff Derby
Women in aeronautics
Royal Air Force
Earhart, Amelia
Richey, Helen