History of Women

In ransportation
From the early 1800’s women have been making a difference in the way we travel.

Mary Riggin invented the rail-

way crossing gate.

Eliza Murfey invented a Amelia Earhart, who piloted

lubricating system that reduced across the Atlantic Ocean in Mary Anderson was granted
track derailments caused by 1932, is undoubtedly the most a patent, in 1903, for her
seized axles and bearings. famous woman in flight. invention of a swinging
arm–window cleaning device.
Mary Walton, in 1879, Harriet Quimby, outfitted in By 1916, the windshield wipers
developed an air purifying a purple satin flying suit of her became standard equipment on
method that was later adapted own design, was the first woman all American cars.
for use on locomotives. She also pilot to cross the English Chan- ce .
invented a noise reduction system nel in a Bleriot monoplane, spa

M
Florence Bridgwood,

n
for the elevated trains being built

ni
April 16th, 1912

Sh
a
e.
arguably the first “movie star”,

e
s the first woma

ann
spac
in large U.S. cities, including her

Je
was not only a wildly popular

on Lucid set the U.S. record

hometown, New York City.

n in
Bessie Coleman, the first

is
silent film star, but also an

on was the
African-American woman pilot,

ome
avid inventor. By 1914 she
received her license from the

.S. w
had invented the first turn

va wa
renowned Federation Aeronau- signal, called an auto signaling

rst U

first Africa
tique Internationale. Bessie arm. She also invented a brake

h ko

the fi
refused to perform at exhibi-

res
signal arm, a precursor to Te
tion unless the audiences were tina

was
the modern day brake a len
desegregated and everyone that tV

for c
au

Ride
signal.

-A
attended was allowed to use the

ont
Soviet cosmo

Sally

er
same entrance.

in u o
ican woman

us tim
in space. e
in space.
Did you know...
Did you know...
Did you know...
Recent Learn
History More
www.nwhp.org

Beverly Cover www.wic.org

was the second women in
history to earn a Bachelor www.swe.org
of Civil Engineering degree
from the Georgia Institute www.wtsnational.org
of Technology. On April
2nd, 1962, she was the www.engineergirl.org
first woman highway engi-
neer to join the Bureau of www.fhwa.dot.gov/wit
Public Roads.
www.ameliaearhart.com

Elizabeth Dole www.harrietquimby.org

became the Secretary
of Transportation on www.bessiecoleman.com
February 7th, 1983.
Her main focus dur- Carmen Turner www.ninety-nines.org
ing her tenure was to was named General
improve the safety of Manager of the Washing-
transportation. In 1989 ton Metropolitan Area
she was honored, with Transit Authority in 1983.
the National Safety She was the first African-
Council’s Distinguished American woman to lead
Service to Safety Award, a major transit agency.
for her efforts to require Under her watchful eye,
auto manufacturers to Washington Metro was
install rear window awarded the coveted

Woman
brake lights, improve Outstanding Achievement
seat belts and include Award from the American
passenger air bags. Public Transit Association.

at Work
One year later she was
named Transit Manager www.adobe.com
of the Year.

Part 3 . Transportation