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Transportation, Aviation, Trophy with Globe and Airplane, Women Aviators Chicago Air Show, Silver Plated, 1937

$2,800

Chicago Girls Flying Club
Marguerite Greene Trophy

B. J. Kesl Co., Chicago: 1937
Silver plated metal on bakelite base
23 inches tall, 6.75 inches diameter, base
$2,800

Women’s air carnival trophy featuring a draped woman with upraised arms holding a globe above her head that has an airplane traversing the North American polar region. The word “Supremacy” is embossed just below the foot of the woman’s dress and the trophy was awarded to Emma Sprague for first prize in spot landing, a contest in which the pilot attempts to touch down as close as possible to a location marked on the runway. The Chicago Girls Flying Club held their 3rd annual air carnival on September 19, 1937. According to an article prior to the event in American Aviation, over 20 “leading women pilots” were expected to compete in front of a crowd of up to 20,000 people. Illinois’ governor and the chairman of the Illinois Aeronautics Commission donated trophies, and other local politicians were expected to be present.

Product description continues below.

Description

The Chicago Girls Flying Club was active in the 1930s, holding air shows at Hangar One in Glenview, Illinois, north of Chicago. The club counted among its members Willa Brown Chappell (1906-1992), the first African-American woman to become a commercial pilot.

Engraved text on base: “Marguerite Greene Trophy. Chicago Girls Flying Club Annual Air Carnival. 1st – ’37. Spot Landing. Emma Sprague.”

Condition: Generally good with usual overall light wear and handling, light oxidation to silver plating.

References:

“Chicago Gals Fly.” American Aviation. 15 September 1937. p. 6. Online: https://books.google.com/books?id=FwMnAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA8-PA6 (8 March 2021).

“Glenview’s Hangar One.” Glenview Hangar One Foundation. 2002. http://www.hangarone.org/History/History4.htm (17 March 2006).

“Willa Brown Chappell.” Kentucky Educational Television. http://www.ket.org/trips/aviation/chappell.htm (17 March 2006).

Additional information

Maker Location

,

Globe Type

Trophy

Material

Bakelite, Silver-plated metal

Style

Art Deco