March is Women’s History Month, and it’s a great time to look the important contributions by many women to the automotive industry through the ages. Adding to our previous Women with Drive series, we celebrate five more women who proved to be amazing automotive forerunners.
Ramsey changing a tyre herself (Image)
Alice Ramsey
Alice Huyler Parker became the first woman to drive coast to coast across the United States in 1909. The historic feat took 59 days and covered more than 6,000km. Back then, automobiles had yet to seize the public’s imagination, and there were few drivers, let alone women drivers. Ramsey encountered many challenges, including navigating terrible road conditions, changing flat tyres and replacing a broken brake pedal, along the way. But by finishing the trip, she showed that the automobile is a practical way of travel. It also inspired confidence in other women to take up driving and own automobiles.
Aloha Wanderwell was only 16 when she started the five-year drive (Image)
Aloha Wanderwell
From one long-distance drive to another. Recognised by the Guinness World Records, Aloha Wanderwell was the first woman to drive around the world. This Canadian had made the trip as a driver, translator, documentarian and filmmaker for a round-the-world motoring tour by the Wanderwell Expeditions. Her journey, in a Ford 1918 Model T, lasted five years from 29 December 1922 to January 1927 and covered more than 80 countries. Her feat was all the more remarkable as she had started on the drive when only 16 years old. Wanderwell continued to live up to her name throughout her life, filming and documenting her travel adventures around the world.
Among Blodgett’s inventions was anti-glare windshield (Image)
Katharine Burr Blodgett
As Wanderwell was wrapping her around-the-world journey, Katharine Blodgett became the first woman to be awarded a PhD in Physics from Cambridge University in 1926. While working at General Electric in New York in 1938, Blodgett invented non-reflective (invisible) glass, which paved the way for the glass used in car windscreens. Her method involved a coating comprising 44 layers of liquid soap (at four millionths of an inch each) that allowed 99% of light to pass through, while eliminating reflected light. She continued to work on other inventions for many industries and retired from the General Electric Company in 1963.
Kwolek was a Polish-American chemist known for inventing Kevlar (Image)
Stephanie Kwolek
Another inventor who made a significant difference to the safety of the automotive industry was Stephanie Kwolek. This German chemist developed and patented a super fiber that we now know as Kevlar. While more commonly associated with bulletproof vests, Kevlar has been used as a material for automotive parts, such as high-performance tyres, seat belts, airbags, and suspension systems. This lightweight but high-strength material provides improved performance, durability, fire resistance and safety. Kwolek submitted the patent application for her invention in November 1968, and it continues to make an impact in the automotive industry today.
Wilcox helped to warm the interiors of cars (Image)
Margaret Wilcox
The car heater is an important part of the automobile in cold climates. Not only does it keep drivers warm, it helps to prevent ice and fog from affecting the windscreen. The first car heater was invented by Margaret Wilcox and patented in 1893. One of the few women mechanical engineers during her time, Wilcox created a way to redirect heat from the car engine to the cabin to keep the driver and passengers warm. In 1929, her design was installed in Ford vehicles, and went on to influence the heaters used in cars today.
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Women with drive
With their drive, knowledge, skills, and creativity, these five automotive pioneers are but a few examples of those who have made a remarkable impact in the field. For their contributions, they have certainly cemented their place in history.
If you want to read more about other women who have changed or influenced the development of the automotive industry, check out our Women with Drive:
- Mary Anderson and Charlotte Bridgwood
- Bertha Benz
- Hedy Lamarr
- Florence Lawrence
- Dorothy Levitt
- June McCaroll
- Gladys West
- Juliane Blasi and Nadya Arnaout
References:
- Guinness World Records – First drive around the world (female)
- Wikipedia – Alice Huyley Ramsey
- Wikipedia – Aloha Wanderwell
- Wikipedia – Katherine Blodgett
- Wikipedia – Margaret A. Wilcox
- Wikipedia – Stephanie Kwolek
Main photo – Alice Ramsey
