A rambunctious Kansas girl took to the sky and soared above the rest. Her story has become legend due to its sad, mysterious ending. Amelia Earhart should be remembered as a true pioneer - showing the world that flying would become a common way to travel. Along the way she challenged gender roles, encouraged women to challenge themselves, and became a style icon. Amelia Earhart will never be forgotten. Born July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas, Amelia Mary Earhart was raised to never be a girly girl. Her mother, also Amelia, encouraged Earhart and her sister Grace to wear bloomers instead of dresses. The sisters loved the outdoors and trouped around Atchison with a gang of kids getting dirty climbing trees. Amelia's father, an alcoholic, had trouble holding down a job. He moved the family to Des Moines, Iowa. It was there in 1907 Amelia saw an airplane for the first time. She was, however, too afraid to fly. Amelia graduated high school in 1916. She trained as a nurse's aide for...
As I discussed in last week's post, there were 3 O G Penny Princesses. Jenny got her own entry, so this week Minnie and Cosuelo get their due. Then two more of the best known Penny Princesses will tell their stories. Minnie Stevens If Minnie Padget had written a self-help book, she would have called it "Marrying Into the Aristocracy For Dummies." Minnie brokered marriages for the Penny Princesses - including Consuelo Vanderbilt. Minnie was a hostess and a brilliant fundraiser as well. Minnie eased young ladies into English society from her house on the posh Belgrave Square. She entertained Bertie and the Marlborough House set. Minnie Stevens was born in 1853. Her father was Paran Stevens, owner of the 5th Avenue hotel. Her mother Marietta was the daughter of a grocer. In typical New York City Society style the Stevens were ostracized for making their money themselves - shudder . Minnie made her debut, to not much success. Paran St...
We all know Aaron Burr, famous dueller. Hardly anyone knows the story of his daughter Theodosia Burr Alston. Theodosia, born June 21, 1873, was Burr's only child. Burr made sure Theodosia was better educated than others of her day - not just women. Theodosia had multiple tutors teaching her a variety of subjects. At 5 she wrote her father letters. At 10 she spoke Latin and French. Theo was seen as a prodigy. She was Burr's statement, to paraphrase Hamilton , that women "should be include(d) in the sequel." While Burr was in D.C. shaping the U.S., Theo was at home, caring for her ailing mother (also Theodosia.) After her mother died, Theo became mistress of the house. She saw to the daily running of the home, supervised staff, and entertained guests. In 1800 Burr was elected as Thomas Jefferson's Vice President. Theo met Joseph Alston, a young man from South Carolina. They married and Theo moved to South Carolina, away from D.C. and her father. She and Joseph Al...
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