Charter Members

On November 2, 1929, twenty-six women gathered at Curtiss Airport, Valley Stream, New York. The weather wasn't favorable and most drove in or came by train. The first order of business was the selection of Neva Paris as temporary chairman, then the presentation of flowers to Viola Gentry, who was recovering from a crash following an endurance record attempt. The women conducted their business in a hangar above the din of a Curtiss Challenger engine running up as the work of the mechanics proceeded around them. Tea was served from a tool box wagon on wheels.

Eligibility and purpose were quickly decided upon. Membership would be open to any woman with a pilot's license, and the purpose was "good fellowship, jobs, and a central office and files on women in aviation". Choosing a name was a little harder. Some offerings were The Climbing Vines, Noisy Birdwomen, Homing Pigeons and Gadflies. Amelia Earhart and Jean Davis Hoyt put a stop to the nonsense proposing the name be taken from the sum total of charter members. Thus the group was momentarily the 86s, then the 97s and finally the 99s. The name/number stopped at 99, but the membership thereafter grew worldwide.

These first 99 women became our charter members.

** - Status unknown.

Last Name First Name Maiden Name Year Died License Bio
Last Name First Name Maiden Name Year Died License Bio
Alexander Mary C. Held 1955 8561 View
Bacon Mary Ellen 1936 9969
Bancroft Barbara W. 2004 6200
Blake Bernice G. Perry 1996 9138
Bridewell ** Ruth T. unkn 6793 View
Brown Margery H. 1961 6945
Brown Myrtle 1934 7701
Brown Vera 1976 10591
Burleigh Thelma R. Johnston 1982 6761
Caldwell Myrle 1992 7718
Chassey Irene J. Green 1991 8587
Chittenden Bonnie Whitman 1998 8589
Clark Marion Clendaniel 1992 6763
Cox Helen V. Cohecy Bikle 1992 7767
Davidson Jean 1999 9400
Dodge Jane 1952 7930 View
Doig Margery L. Greenberg 1973 10073 View
Earhart Amelia 1937 5716
Elder Ruth Camp King 1977 675
Fenno Sarah S. Starkweather 1971 9920 View
Ferguson Frances Leitch Leistikow 2002 8695
Fiset Adeline F. Anderson 1992 8613
Fleet Phyllis Nelson Crary 2003 8097
Foltz Edith Stearns 1956 5600
Fox Ila Loetscher 1999 7738
Gentry Viola 1988 1822
Giesin Thelma Elliott 1991 7732
Gillis Fay Wells 2002 9497
Goddard Phyllis M. Penfield 1984 5487 View
Goodrich Mary H. Jenson 2004 9410
Gorby Melba Beard 1987 9116
Grey Geraldine Loffredo 1949 1788 View
Hall Candis I. Hitzig Gullino 2003 6500
Hall Sacha Martin 1992 2500
Halliburton Ruth E. Macgregor unkn 8031 View
Harrell Frances Marsalis 1934 7346
Heath Lady Mary Williams 1935 5333
Hopkins Nancy Tier 1997 5889
Hoyt Jean Davis 1988 4851
Huyler Betty Gillies 1998 6525
Johnson Katherine F. 1967 7793
Joseph Angela L. 1930 8947
Kauffman Mildred E. Workman 1932 6447 View
Kelly Betsy Weeks 1985 9948
Kelly Madeline B. Royle 1997 5919
Kenny Cecelia Roy 1980 7143
Kenyon Cecil W. "Teddy" 1985 9949
Klingensmith Florence E. 1933 7096 View
Kunz Opal Logan 1967 6830
Lange Eva Mae 1963 8189
LaRene Jean Foote 1960 5700
Lay Eleanor B. Ross 1981 8343
Leh Dorothea Backenstoe 1955 3961
Lesser Marjorie May VanAntwerp 1969 7200
Lovelace Ethel Morgan 1991 5766 View
Lutz Lola L. 1968 7806
MacDonald Mildred H. Chase 1982 7455
Manning Helen Mathews 1963 9241
Mathews Olivia "Keet" Maugham 2001 9159 View
McConnell Edwina Thro 1992 7500
McCulloch Retha Crittenden 1993 5260
Miller Jessie Maude 1973 6014
Mills Agnes A. 1991 5711 View
Nelson Sylvia Anthony 1984 6456
Nichols Ruth Rowland 1960 326 View
Nicholson Mary Webb 1943 9562
Noyes Blanche Wilcox 1981 6540
O'Donnell Gladys 1973 6608
O'Mara Margaret Fzandee (Fedanzie) 1980 2175 View
Omlie Phoebe Fairgrave 1975 199 View
Paris Neva Findley 1930 5073
Paxon Peggy J. 1992 8551
Peacock Achsa B. Donnels 2003 3289
Perry Margaret C. Manser 1951 4049
Place Elizabeth F. 1988 8716 View
Porter Lillian Metcalf 1959 4229
Rasche Thea 1971 6700 View
Ray Mathilda J. 1992 7591
Rothholz Meta 1974 10169
Ruland Gertrude Oberlander 1972 8322
Shankle Joan Fay Davis 1965 7838 View
Spangle Hazel Mark 1992 9260
Stewart Ruth Woerner 1932 5375
Stinaff Mildred 1931 10491
Stinson Marjorie C. 1975 1600
Stocker Dorothy L. 1994 7973 View
Thaden Louise McPhetridge 1979 1943 View
Thomas Margaret Warren 2004 6180 View
Trout Evelyn Bobbi 2003 2613
Vance Esther Combes 1983 3180
Von Mach Mary E. 1980 4117
Walker Vera Dawn 1978 5265 View
Walsh Wilma L. 10/1 4272 View
Webb ** E. Ruth unkn 8240
White Nora Alma 1931 9270
Willhite Nellie Zabel 1991 8242
Willis Margaret Smith 1971 5018
Wood Josephine C. Wallingford 2004 9129
Worley Alberta B. Homan 9/28 9286 View
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