2 Tough Biker Sisters Take On the US Army - In 1916

[Are_grits_groceries]

In 1916 Augusta and Adeline Van Buren weren’t your average society girls. The sisters, decedents of former president Van Buren, were the first women to ride motorcycles coast-to-coast across the U.S., which in those days was no easy task.

However, it wasn’t just a casual Sunday ride for these sisters; they were on a mission to prove that women were far more capable than society gave them credit for.

Gussie and Addie wanted to prove that women could successfully serve in the armed forces. As part of the National Preparedness Movement in the buildup to WWI, the sisters wanted to show that women could serve as skilled dispatch riders delivering communications on the war front.

This would prove that women could participate in the war effort, which had been used routinely as a reason to deny women voting rights.
<snip>
West of Chicago they were arrested many times. Not for speeding or riding dangerously, but for wearing men’s clothing (women’s motorcycle gear wasn’t invented quite yet).
<snip>
After completing the phenomenal journey, Adeline’s application to the army as a dispatch rider was rejected. But it wasn’t enough to keep these women down.

Adeline eventually earned her law degree from NYU and Augusta became a pilot, flying with the “99s” women’s flying group founded by Amelia Earhart.

These relatively unknown heroes might not have known it at the time, but they played a significant role in the women’s rights movement. And they did it the old fashioned way—with true grit and determination.


http://www.divinecaroline.com/22349/85369-sisters-change-world---motorbikes

Who knew? Hidden heroines all around. Good on them!:toast:

[Vidar]

1. Thanks for sharing this unknown, inspirational gem.

[Mari333]

2. thanks!

2 more women not put into the history books for me to read as a child.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. What a cool story!

Recommended - the political climate during that period was toxic for women's suffrage, due to the hyper-nationalism of jerks such as Mitchell Palmer. The Van Burens deserve a lot of credit, certainly more than they've been given.:thumbsup:

[leveymg]

4. Tough and beautiful. It shines through.

"Addie"-(L) and "Gussie"-(R)

[kickysnana]

5. My nana then 13 and her brother 11 delivered heating oil in rural SDak during WWI

She moved to St Paul and got a certificate in accounting but was not able to secure a job but she did manage to land a sales position for a large printing company.

[cwydro]

6. Thanks for posting this!

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. There are probably a lot more women

we don't know about who did remarkable things.

[cwydro]

8. Absolutely.

I have had a habit of reading the NYTimes obits when I can...and have learned of all kinds of courageous, adventurous women I never read a thing about until their death.