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From the Flying Pioneers Biographies of Harold E. Morehouse
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Harriet Quimby
Early Bleriot Exhibition Aviatrix

Harriet Quimby was born at Arroya Grande, California May 1, 1884. Following her education she went into journalism and became a news reporter in San Francisco. This later led to a position as Dramatic Editor of Leslie's Weekly in New York.
In her coverage of notable events she became interested in the early course of aviation developments in the New York area. She attended the 1910 Belmont Park Aviation Meet October 22d to 31st and there became determined to learn to fly. As a result Harriet started to take flying lessons secretly at the newly formed Moisant School of Aviation at Hempstead Plaines Long Island, New York in late April, 1911.
There she started her instruction on a school Moisant Bleriot-type single seat monoplane, powered by a 3 cylinder, 30 H.P. Anzani engine. She received verbal ground instruction from Andre Houpert and always practiced very early in the morning when no one but Houpert was present. An apt pupil, she was soon making extended hope. She had a minor smashup on May 13th when the running gear collapsed on landing, but was not injured.
Soon Matilda Moisant and F. deMuries also became students and were practicing with her. By late June Harriet was flying circles and staying up until the

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