]> Finding Aid for the Ruth Mary Petry Papers, 1940-1991, and undated Processed by: Natalie Edwards; machine-readable finding aid created by: Natalie Edwards University Archives & ManuscriptsThe University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC, USA
2007 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: March 2007. Description is in English. Finding aid was prepared using DACS. Finding Aid for the Ruth Mary Petry Papers, 1940-1991, and undated University Libraries, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro &hdrnguscua; Descriptive Summary The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. University Archives & Manuscripts. Petry, Ruth Mary, 1916-2004 Ruth Mary Petry Papers, 1940-1991, and undated WV0319 Material in English. 2.5 linear feet Approximately 300 items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives & Manuscripts. Ruth Mary Petry (1916-2004) of Ithaca, New York, served in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) from 1943 to 1944. Petry was stationed at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas and at Courtland Air Base, Alabama, during her time in the service. Collection contains information about Petry's experiences as a WASP during World War Two and as a member of the Order of Fifinella. The collection spans from 1940 to 1991. Material formats include: correspondence from 1943 to 1949 and 1961 to 1991, manuals, certificates and official papers from 1940 to 1945, militarization and deactivation letters from 1944, uniforms and handbooks from the 1940's, stationary, newsletters, newspapers, WASP rosters, photographs from the 1930's to the 1960's, and artifacts. Letters describe the daily events and life of Ruth Petry, topics include aspects of aviation, planes, weather, and training. WASP materials focus on the deactivation of the WASP program, regulations, the post war campaign to gain veteran status, and corporate affairs of the Order of Fifinella. The collection also contains a series of photographs and artifacts. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

 Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Ruth Mary Petry Papers (WV0319), Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA.

 Acquisitions Information

Purchased in 2005.

 Processing Information

Processed by Natalie Edwards, March 2007

Encoded by Natalie Edwards, March 2007

 Biographical Note

Ruth Mary Petry was born 20 June 1916 and resided in Ithaca, New York. Petry attended Cornell University from 1933 to 1935. Later, she transferred to Radcliffe University where she graduated in 1938 with a degree in geology. Petry obtained her full pilots license in 1940 and her commercial license in 1945. In the early 1940's Petry was employed by Pan Am teaching instrumental flying.

In 1943, Petry joined the Women Airforce Sservice Pilots and was a graduating member of class 44-W-2. During her time in service, Petry was a ferrying pilot; she was also an early test pilot for the B-24, B-17, P-47, and P-39 planes. She attended training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, and was stationed at Courtland Air Base in Alabama. Petry was discharged from the WASP on 20 December 1944 when the program was disbanded.

Upon her discharge Petry was employed as an aerial photographer pilot with Air Views Inc. She also worked with Crash Injury Research at Cornell Medical College for the Department of the Navy. She was an analyst for John Hopkins from 1952 to 1954, and did military research for Cape Institute of Technology. In 1957 Petry relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked for Safety Engineering and Research: Flight Safety Foundation.

Petry was a founding member of the 99's, an international organization of women pilots. She was also very active in the Order of Fifinella, the official WASP organization. Petry served as leader of the Arizona chapter during the campaign for veteran status and other WASP corporate affairs. In addition to piloting, Ruth Petry was also involved in soaring; in 1950 she won the Dallas, Texas American Women's Soaring Championship and was also a member of Arizona Soaring.

Ruth Petry passed away on 17 September 2004.

 Collection Overview

The Ruth Mary Petry Papers contain information about Petry's experience as a member of the WASP during World War Two and her postwar involvement in the Order of Fifinella, the official WASP organization. The collection spans from 1940 to 1991, and most of the materials are from 1944 and focus specifically on World War Two WASP activities. Document formats in this collection include: personal letters from 1943 to 1949, certificates and official papers from 1940 to 1945, newsletters, newspapers from the 1940's, photographs, WASP rosters, manuals, and artifacts.

Petry's letters discuss the daily duties and life of a WASP. Frequently she describes, in detail, training exercises, weather, planes, ferrying orders and cross country flights, life in the bunk, uniforms, flight classes, and cockpit procedures. Petry also discusses the deactivation of the WASP, which took place on 20 December 1944 in her personal correspondence with both family and fellow WASP. In a letter received by Petry from a fellow WASP stationed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota the dynamic between WASP and the service men who were stationed on base is described.

Petry remained active in WASP affairs postwar by joining the Order of Fifinella; the other half of the collection focuses on the corporation of the WASP/Order of Fifinella organization, the history of the Order of Fifinella, the campaign for gaining veteran status, and reunion information and WASP updates.

Collection Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series: Correspondence, WASP Materials, Photographs, and Artifacts.

 Detailed Description of the Collection Series 1. Correspondence 1943-1949 and undated

Arrangement: Chronological

Letters to and from family and friends describe Petry's experiences as a member of the WASP. Letters focus specifically on training, planes, official orders, uniforms, personal interactions and life on base, and the deactivation of the WASP program. Petry describes different flights that she participated in, as well as some tales from her fellow WASP, candidly discussing things such as night flying and any unexpected flying situations. In a letter received by Petry from a fellow WASP stationed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the dynamic between WASP and the service men who were stationed on base is described. Miscellaneous folders contain several manuals and items of the Petry family that are undated, or unrelated to Ruth Petry or WASP.

 1 1943 2 1944: January-March 3 1944: April 4 1944: May-June 5 1944: July 6 1944: August 7 1944: September 8 1944: October 9 1944: November-December 10 1945-1949 and undated 11 Miscellaneous: Ruth Mary Petry 12 Miscellaneous: Petry Family Series 2. WASP Materials

Arrangement: By material format then date.

WASP history from 1940 to 1991. The majority of this series focuses on WASP events during the 1940's, covering a wide range of issues from uniforms and regulations, to official assignments and deactivation of the WASP program. Postwar WASP materials focus on the campaign to gain veteran status for WASP, reunions, and Order of Fifinella affairs. This series contains a variety of documents types such as official orders, official correspondence, newsletters, newspapers, rosters, stationary, handbooks, and certificates. Items are arranged by document format, and then by chronology. This series also includes a copy of The Avenger and a master WASP roster as well as rosters for WASP graduating classes 43-W and 44-W.

 13 Certificates, 1940-1945 14 Official Correspondence, 1940-1945 15 Orders, 1944 16 Militarization and deactivation, 1944 17 Uniforms and regulations 18 Stationary, 1940's 19 Correspondence, 1961-1991 and undated 20 Newsletters 21 Newspapers 22 Roster correspondence, undated roster lists 23 WASP Class 43-W roster 24 WASP Class 44-W roster 25 Master WASP roster Series 3. Photographs, 1930s-1960s, bulk 1940s

Photographs are of Ruth Mary Petry. Most photographs are WASP photos and include both individual portraits and group shots. Other photographs are a mix of portraits and candid shots both before and after the WWII. All photgraphs in the series are black and white, with the exception of one family portrait and two photographs from the 1960s.

 26 Photographs,1930s-1960s, bulk 1940s Series 4: Artifacts, 1940's

Artifacts include aviator sunglasses, embossed seals, a compass, and a decorative shirt pin.

 Artifacts Separated Material

Separated material includes oversize manuals, The Avenger, and artifacts.

 Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Petry, Ruth Mary, 1916-2004 Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.)--Military uniforms. Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.) Women test pilots--United States Women Air Pilots--United States World War, 1939-1945--Women--United States. World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Female.