Harriet Quimby [1875-1912]
The first woman to cross the English Channel.
1911
Intriguing and dynamic could describe Harriet Quimby. She was an actress, model, magazine writer, screenwriter, and the first woman to ever cross the English Channel. Although she lost her life at an early age, her legacy lives on through Sara Sincell, who will be portraying this celebrated personality on the Victorian Chautauqua stage on Sunday, July 10th.
In 1911, the Aero Club of America issued Quimby her aviator’s certificate, making her the first woman to earn a pilot’s license. Crossing the English Channel under normal circumstances would have captured newspaper headlines; however, the hour-long flight received little press. The day before her scheduled demonstratio, the Titanic ocean liner sank, commanding the world’s attention and eclipsing her landmark journey.
Harriet Quimby's public life began as a writer for the San Francisco Dramatic Review. She also contributed to the Sunday editions of the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Call. She moved to Manhattan, New York City in 1903 to work as a theater critic for Leslie's Illustrated Weekly and more than 250 of her articles were published over close to a decade.
Quimby continued to write for Leslie's even when touring with airshows, recounting her fascinating adventures in a series of articles. Her unusual life captured the imaginations of her readers. Totally committed to her new passion, the dedicated journalist and aviator avidly promoted the economic potential of commercial aviation and touted flying as an ideal sport for women.
Quimby became interested in aviation in 1910 when she attended the Belmont Park International Aviation Tournament in Elmont, New York. There she met John Moisant, a well-known aviator and operator of a flight school, and his sister Matilde who would also receive her license to fly, the second woman to accomplish this.
Taking Flight
Airshows were popular at Belmont Park on Long Island, New York. Events including the Wright Brothers would circle the Statue of Liberty to the west before returning to hoards of fans cheering on the grounds.
Early airshows were highly regarded and could earn pilots as much as $1,000 per performance ($30,000 today), and prize money for a race could fetch aviators as much as $10,000 or more. Quimby joined the Moisant International Aviators, an exhibition team, and made her professional debut earning $1,500 in a night flight over Staten Island before an enthusiastic crowd of almost 20,000 spectators.
As one of the country's few female pilots, she capitalized on her femininity by wearing her signature purple flight suit tucked into high-laced boots and accentuated with a necklace and antique bracelet. Her image attracted the eye of Armour Meat Packing, launching a new product. She was recruited to be a spokesperson for a grape soda named Vin Fiz, paired well with her notably colorful attire.
The novelty of her gender and accomplishments drew crowds whenever she competed in cross-country meets and races. As part of the exhibition team, she showcased her talents around the United States and even went to Mexico City at the end of 1911 to participate in aviation activities held in honor of President Francisco I. Madero's inauguration.
Quimby’s ambitious career ended abruptly during the Third Annual Boston Aviation Meet in Squantum, Massachusetts. Flying her brand-new two-seat Bleriot monoplane, Quimby was accompanied by the event’s organizer, William A. P. Willard. After reaching the apex of the flight path, she circled back, heading toward the airfield to show off her prowess to an awaiting audience. At 1,000 feet, the plane suddenly pitched forward for reasons still unknown, ejecting both passengers from the plane and consequently to their deaths. The plane glided to the ground and was lodged in the mud. Although a tragic loss, Quimby became an important figure who opened up new opportunities for women in aviation.
Beyond her success as a pilot, Quimby was also an accomplished screenplay and scenario writer with seven silent films to her name. She was a beloved personality and even acted in one of her film titles. All were directed by D. W. Griffith who is considered one of the most influential figures in filmmaking and who pioneered editing techniques and narratives in moving pictures.
Sara Sincell has performed on the Renaissance Festival circuit for many years as “Myrtle” with the nationally recognized all-woman comedy troupe, The Washing Well Wenches. She enjoyed a full-time career as a performer before returning to graduate school to pursue licensure as a therapist in recent years. To complete her look for her rendition of Harriet Quimby, Sara has commissioned a replica purple flight suit by an accomplished customer who specializes in period clothing. The Victorian Chautauqua will mark Sara’s premiere performance as Quimby. She plans to add this captivating period of women in aviation to her acting repertoire for future venues.
Sara is grateful to marry her passions through her work in the mental health field. Sara received her BA in Acting from Shenandoah University Conservatory, Winchester, VA, and her MA in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA. Sara is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owns a private practice in Los Angeles. LEARN MORE
