Our History
New displays at Ninety-Nines Museum
July 8, 1994
The Ninety-Nines Museum contains several handsome new displays. The Jerrie Cobb collection, which has been in storage for several years, is at last prominently exhibited. Thanks to the generosity of Oklahoma City museum display expert Stan Byers, a representation o f Jerrie 's corporate flying, her astronaut testing and years of flying in Amazonia are all represented . Copious scrapbooks are available to researchers for Jerrie's inspiring story.
Edna Gardner Whyte
Anita Lewis generously donated the restoration and organization of Edna Gardner Whyte's artifacts. The racing trophies of today pale in comparison with the impressive early racing prizes of silver and other precious metals. Edna's entire life was devoted to flying and her story is an important part of the development of commercial aviation.
British Air Transport Auxiliary
Two American members o f the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) who flew everything with propellers and wings during WWII spent several days at their own expense in the 99s archives. Nancy Livingston and Roberta L eveaux identified photos and artifacts, providing a valuable historical perspective for the collection. The staff and eavesdroppers loved the talented pilots' reminiscing. For slave laborers, they seemed to have a good time, too.
Historical film library
Ninety-Nines' very own film producer, James Cross of Los Angeles, has proposed assisting our organization in accumulating a comprehensive historical film library. Stay tuned for details as this project develops.
New Resource Center Chairman
This report is full of folks volunteering their treasure, time and talent for the expansion and enrichment of the Ninety-Nines Resource Center. Our good fortune continues as the chair of the center passes to Verna West, a 99 imbued with a passion for the history of women in aviation. The Resource Center—encompassing the museum , library, archives and oral/video history collection— will now be in Verna's capable hands.
She will depend on the devoted help of the Headquarters staff and each 99 historian: You! Each member is a historian with access to stories, people and artifacts. Help to preserve aviation's story.
