Name/Title
VIRGINIA OGDEN ANDREWS ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONEntry/Object ID
1991.62.2Scope and Content
The Virginia Ogden Andrews Archival Collection was accessioned into IWASM in December 1991. Virginia's daughter, Juanita Andrews, donated the material along with the Ruth Alexander Collection (see MS-009). Juanita was the stepdaughter of Robert Elliott. Robert's first wife was Ruth Alexander who died in 1930. The papers in the collection date from 1929 to 1946. This collection consists of a photograph, some loose clippings, two scrapbooks, and a pair of sunglasses.Context
Virginia Ogden was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1908. She saw her first plane at age 3 and took her first flight at age 12. Flying lessons were postponed because of money. She attended the College of Journalism at the University of Washington. While a student there, she learned to fly at the Renton Airport. She soloed in 1929 at age 21 and then bought an Arrow Sport plane. The next year she earned her private pilot's license and participated in the 1930 Northwest Air Tour. In 1932 she married Elbert Andrews.
Virginia was active in promoting women in aviation. She was a member of the Seattle Chapter of the Women's Aeronautic Association and a 1931 charter member of the Seattle Aviation Country Club. In 1933, she helped organize the Associated Women Pilots of Boeing Field (1933-1946). She and a few other members owned their own planes, and some were married to pilots. The women adopted blue grease monkey overalls as their official uniform and a winged slipper as their logo.
Membership fluctuated as women pilots joined, dropped out, or died. Some of the members in 1937 were Virginia Ogden Andrews, Gladys Crooks, Geraldine "Jerry" Fletcher, Kathleen Green, Opal "Red" Hiser, Lettie Johnson, Mildred Filz Merrill, Louise "Pat" Patterson, Marie Riddle, Hildegarde Schmidt, Grace Shanahan, Lucille Stone, Mildred Trick, and Rose Trick,Collection
Virginia Ogden Andrews Archival CollectionCataloged By
Lynn VandevortAcquisition
Accession
1991.62Source or Donor
Juanita AndrewsArchive Details
Creator
Juanita AndrewsDate(s) of Creation
1929 - 1946Date(s) Material Assembled
1991 - 1991Restrictions
There are no restrictions on accessing most material in this collection with certain restrictions denoted in this Finding Aid; however, due to preservation concerns, original audio and videocassettes and reels may not be played in the Research Center. Patrons have access to digitized reference copies, when available. Items without existing reference copies can be digitized at the patron’s request for the cost of creating a digital copy and for any applicable staff time.Primary Language
EnglishArchive Items Details
Creator
Virginia Ogden AndrewsDate(s) of Creation
1929 - 1946Copyright
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access and Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured by the repository and the copyright holder.Create Date
August 28, 2026Update Date
August 28, 2026
