The Grapevine: A Look at a Unique Book on a Unique Subject Found by a Friend at a Very Unique Event
By Rosalyn Queen on May 08, 2025 from The Grapevine
A little story about the book Aviatrix by Elinor Smith that my friend has.
First the details of how the book came to be in the possession of Sharon Twentier. The book was in a book sale and it came from Connie Lilliette who gave it to Twentier. Sera Merandi had attended an event on April 10, 1984, which was sponsored by the Women’s Club of
Clarksburg and was in conjunction with the West Virginia Bicentennial Celebration.
Clarksburg and was in conjunction with the West Virginia Bicentennial Celebration.
Twentier purchased the book from Smith who was the keynote speaker for the event and it as autographed to Sers Mirandi. A program for the event states that then Secretary of State, the late A. J. Manchin, gave remarks and Betty Henry served as the general chairman for the event. This gathering was held at the former Sheraton Inn on Main Street in downtown Clarksburg.
As for the authority, Elinor Smith was born in 1911 and passed on 2010. She took her first plane ride at the age of six and the rest of her life found her flying high. Her first solo flight was at the age of 16. After she married in 1933 she kept flying and setting records but once she had a child she retired from flying. After her husband Tim Sullivan died on 1956 she returned to flying. She became the third person and first woman to be pictured on a Wheaties box.
Aviatrix is a warm and loving memoir of an exciting time in aviation. This is an enthralling piece of history especially about the contributions of women to early aviation
Editor's Note: Shown, from left, are Rosalyn Queen and Sharon Twentier holding the book.
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