Ruth Law, American Aviatrix

Ruth Law, American Aviatrix

Ruth Law arriving at Governor's Island, New York after her flight from Chicago. Ruth Law Oliver (May 21, 1887 - December 1, 1970) was a pioneer American aviatrix. She was inspired to take up flying by her brother, parachutist and pioneer movie stuntman Rodman Law. She was instructed by Harry Atwood and Arch Freeman at Atwood Park in Massachusetts, having been refused lessons by Orville Wright because, according to Law, he believed that women weren't mechanically inclined. She received her pilot's license in 1912, and in 1915 gave a demonstration of aerobatics at Daytona Beach, Florida, before a large crowd. Her greatest feat took place on November 19,1916, when she broke the existing cross-America flight air speed record of 452 miles set by Victor Carlstrom by flying nonstop from Chicago to New York, a distance of 590 miles. The next day she flew on to New York City. Flying over Manhattan, her fuel cut out, but she glided to a safe landing on Governors Island. After the United States entered WWI in 1917, she campaigned unsuccessfully for women to be allowed to fly military aircraft. After the war, she continued to set records. In 1922, Law woke up to read with surprise an announcement of her retirement in the newspaper; her husband had tired of her dangerous job and had taken that step to end her flying career. She died in 1970 at the age of 83. Bain News Service, November 20, 1916.

Album / Science Source / Library of Congress

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27.4 x 36.8 cm | 10.8 x 14.5 in (300 dpi)