Marjorie Stinson Diary (SC-393)
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of a single pocket size diary written by Marjorie Stinson during her time learning to fly at the Wright School of Aviation in Dayton, Ohio.
The earliest entry is from June 19, 1914, and reads simply "Dayton Bound" with a sketch of an arrow underneath; that was the day she departed on that day from San Antonio, Texas. She arrived at Dayton on June 25, 1914, and on that same day made her first visit to the Huffman Prairie with... Orville Wright. Entries continue steadily through July and August. There are a few entries in November 1914, as well as March 1915 (which are written on the pages for March 1914). She mentions encounters and activities involving the Wright family (Orville, Katharine, Bishop Milton), as well as other pilots, including Howard Rinehart, Brindley, Brewer, Beachey, Ando, and her siblings Katharine and Edward.
The back of the diary also includes names and addresses under Memoranda, as well as a few notes in the Cash Account section.
Dates
- Creation: 1914 - 1915
Creator
- Stinson, Marjorie Claire, 1896-1975 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on accessing material in this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Marjorie Stinson (1895-1975) was one of the first woman pilots. She trained at the Wright Flying School in Dayton, Ohio, in the summer of 1914. She arrived at Dayton on June 25, 1914; flew solo for the first time on August 4; and earned her pilot's license on August 12, 1914, at the age of 19. She was the 9th woman (and youngest woman) to earn a pilot's license in the United States.
Marjorie was an airmail pilot, a flight instructor, a stunt pilot,... and a charter member of the Ninety-Nines (International Organization of Women Pilots).
Marjorie's older siblings Katherine Stinson and Edward Stinson trained at the Wright Flying School as well.
Extent
0.05 linear feet (1 diary)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Marjorie Stinson Diary was purchased by Wright State University Libraries' Special Collections and Archives via an Ebay online auction in January 2025.
Subject
- Stinson, Marjorie Claire, 1896-1975 -- Diaries (Person)
- Wright School of Aviation and Exhibition Team -- History (Organization)
- Wright Flying School -- History (Organization)
- Wright, Orville, 1871-1948 (Person)
- Stinson, Katherine, 1891-1977 (Person)
- Stinson, Edward, 1894-1932 (Person)
- Rinehart, Howard Max, 1885-1949 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Marjorie Stinson Diary (SC-393)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Lisa Rickey
- Date
- 2025 March
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092
library-archives@wright.edu
