Airplane in the Distance
Women air pilots -- United States
A plane, most likely one piloted by well-known aviatrix Ruth Nichols, is visible past a chain-link fence. Mechanics seem to be working on and around the aircraft.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN8
Bundled Ruth Nichols and a Crosley Radio Plane
Women air pilots -- United States
Aviation pioneer and multiple record breaker Ruth Nichols stands in front of a Crosley Radio Plane. Brothers Prowel Jr. and Lewis Crosley, founders of Crosley Radio, were inventors who were responsible for the first airplane radio broadcast in 1930s. Nichols wears a fur-lined, heavy jumpsuit. A similar photograph with the same plane exists in which Nichols is wearing a classic 1930s hat and long leather coat.
Photograph by H. A. Schoenhals Photography, 1 Newark Ave., Jersey City, New Jersey.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1930s
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN29
Early Photograph belonging to Nichols
Women air pilots -- United States
This picture, found in the Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, appears to have been developed using early photographic techniques and materials. The woman in the photograph is lavishly and elaborately dressed with her hair done up. It is unclear who the woman pictured is, although she does resemble successful pilot Nichols.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN49
Letter from Ruth Nichols Admirer
Women air pilots -- United States
Aviation pioneer and multiple record breaker Ruth Nichols most likely received many letters from fans. This is one such letter in which Nichols is asked for her assistance in detailing a photograph of herself.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
October 1, 1930
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN32
New York
Mechanics Work on Ruth Nichols' Plane
Women air pilots -- United States
The famous, record breaking aviatrix, Ruth Nichols sits in white on the rear wing of this airplane. The jumpsuit clad men appear to be working on the plane's mechanics.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1924-1960
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN1
Nichols About to Fly
Women air pilots -- United States
Famous early pilot Ruth Nichols looks a bit mismatched in a sweater with a collared shirt underneath, flight pants, and a plane helmet. Part of a large plane rudder is visible behind the smiling aviatrix.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN46
Nichols About to Go Hunting
Women air pilots -- United States
Famous early pilot Ruth Nichols gathers with members of her hunting party outside of log cabins in Ontario, Canada. Nichols had gone out searching for moose in the month of October 1929. The handwritten caption on the back of the photograph reads, "Setting off for a 'trek' (not tump line)."
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
October 1929
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN17
Ontario, Canada
Nichols and Child in Front of Plane
Women air pilots -- United States
Famous female pilot Ruth Nichols poses for a photograph with her arm around a little girl. Behind them sits a Curtiss aircraft.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1930s
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN7
Nichols at the Control Center
Women air pilots -- United States
Famous Aviatrix Ruth Nichols sits in the Air Control Center holding a paper and wearing a headset. She appears to be sending out a message using Morse code. Behind her stands a male airplane pilot in uniform.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN39
Nichols Atop a Plane
Women air pilots -- United States
Ruth Nichols, widely known as an accomplished aviatrix of her time, sits high on the wings of fairly large, non-commercial plane. On the side of the plane are the names "Anoco" and "Akila."
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN43
Nichols in Front of Plane
Women air pilots -- United States
Famed aviatrix Ruth Nichols is seen in this photograph standing in front of a military plane. Although wearing a dress, she appears to have a flight suit draped across her left arm.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1930s
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN33
Nichols in Pilot's Uniform
Women air pilots -- United States
On 29 December 1931, successful aviatrix Nichols became the first woman to work for a commercial passenger airline as a pilot. She stands in her uniform here.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1931
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN9
Nichols Magazine Picture
Women air pilots -- United States
This picture of flying record-breaker Ruth Nichols appears to have been cut out of a magazine. The bottom caption reads "'The Life Saver' Pilot Ruth Nichols." Behind the well-dressed and young-looking Nichols is a plane with a Life Saver logo on the side.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN50
Nichols Poses for Portrait
Women air pilots -- United States
Aviation pioneer and multiple record breaker Ruth Nichols sits for a portrait wearing a leather flight jacket. Silver flight wings are pinned to her chest.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1930s
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN38
Nichols Poses in Front of a Small Plane
Women air pilots -- United States
Ruth Nichols, wearing pants, a collared shirt, and a headband stands in front of a relatively small plane. She is posing in her favorite way, with her hands in her pants pockets and a smile on her face.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN48
Nichols Setting Transcontinental Record
Women air pilots -- United States
During her impressive flying career, Ruth Nichols set a new Transcontinental flying time record. Pictured here is Nichols in her Lockhead Vega in Burbank, California on 1 December 1930 after flying from the East to the West coast in 17 hours. Ten days later she arrived back on on the East coast after a total flight time of 13 hours.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
1 December 1930
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN34
Burbank, California
Nichols Sits Leisurely
Women air pilots -- United States
Ruth Nichols sits atop a house's stone stoop on a sunny day. The famous female pilot sports a full skirt, large beret hat, and a smile.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN45
Nichols Waiting for Transportation
Women air pilots -- United States
Aviation pioneer and multiple record breaker Ruth Nichols stands on a train station platform wearing a full length, double-breasted coat, headband, and strapped shoes. She appears to be looking for the train or somebody to arrive.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN40
Nichols Waving From Plane Window
Women air pilots -- United States
Dressed in a nice woman's suit and wearing a pillbox hat, record breaking aviatrix Ruth Nichols is seen waving from the window of a plane.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1930s
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN36
On The American Magazine Cover
Women air pilots -- United States
Pictured here is a black and white copy of the cover of the March 1932 edition of contemporary popular magazine The American Magazine. The front features famed female pilot Ruth Nichols. Ruth Nichols' story appears inside: "Behind the Ballyhoo" by Neysa McMein. In the colored print, Ruth is wearing a bright red jumpsuit. This cover was printed slightly different in Canada.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Woodhouse, P. G., Octavus Roy Cohen, Faith Baldwin, and C. B. Kelland, Eds. The American Magazine. Springfield, Ohio: Crowell-Collier Publishing Company (March 1932).
March 1932
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN27
Springfield, Ohio
Photo Strip with Ruth Nichols
Women air pilots -- United States
In this photograph strip tha consists of two images, Ruth Nichols, an incredibly successful female pilot of her time, sits at a table next to an unknown man with two others standing beside them. The first photograph is fairly clear with Nichols looking directly at the picture taker. In the second photograph, which is quite fuzzy, those captured appear to be busy with something on the table.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1930s
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN44
Plane on Runway
Airplanes
Found in the a collection of photographs gathered by famed female pilot Ruth Nichols is this picture of a plane, most likely from the 1930s, sitting upon a cement runway.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1930
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN31
Portrait of Ruth Rowland Nichols
Women air pilots -- United States
Pioneer female pilot Ruth Rowland Nichols poses for her portrait wearing a leather, high-collared coat.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
ca. 1924-1960
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN22
Postcard of Unknown Man
Women air pilots -- United States
Found within the IWASM collection of Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection is this postcard of a mysterious unknown man in glasses named Ivan Mauni. Handwritten, cryptic messages written in Latin appear under the man's picture: Inventus, meaning found or discovered; Immortalis, meaning immortal; and Le Bedux et Ivall, most likely family names or locations. The back reads "Post Card," "Special by R. Torres Studios," "224 West 116th St., New York, 101 Lenox Ave."
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN6
Postcard to Ruth Nichols
Women air pilots -- United States
This postcard to famed female pilot reads "Merry Christmas from Valtiughan Field, Fredericksburg and Elijaheaa M. Pillips." It was addressed to Ruth Nichols who was currently living on Grace Church St. Rye New York. The postmark reads December 18, 1939, Fredericksburg, PA.
IWASM
Ruth Nichols Photograph Collection, International Women's Air and Space Museum
December 18, 1939
Heidi Fearing
Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests contact the International Women's Air & Space Museum at info@iwasm.org
Photo No. RN10
Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania