Special Collections & Archives: Jane Haselden Papers: Home

MSC 38 - Jane Haselden Papers, ca. 1922-1980, (bulk 1922-1942)

Creator: Haselden, Jane, 1903-1991

Extent: .5 cubic ft.

These are the personal papers and photographs of Jane Haselden. Included are letters written by Haselden to her mother during the period she attended Hamilton College and Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky (1922-1924). An incomplete personal travel log documents Haselden's cruise to Europe aboard the S.S. LANCASTRIA, during which she visited Spain, Portugal, and North Africa (1925). Also present are photographs of a Transylvania University trip to Mexico (1936), and an album with photographs and newspaper clippings from her time as professor at Murray State University and University of Kentucky (1940-1979). This album also includes later photographs which show Haselden and friends such as Mayrell Johnson, who as a naval aviator, was the first woman to receive flight orders from the United States Navy. Also present are Haselden's pilot flight record and logbook (1940-1942), and and a folder of documents from a small display for Women's History month (1991).

Born in 1903 in Lancaster, Kentucky, Jane Haselden graduated from Hamilton College in 1924 and Transylvania University in 1926. She earned advanced degrees from Columbia University and the University of Kentucky, and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris.  While at Hamilton and Transylvania, Haselden was a member of ∆∆∆.  She regularly wrote letters to her mother at home in Lancaster while attending college.  These letters include everything from the exciting news like getting an A to the mundane such as requesting food be sent. 

In 1925, she traveled to Northern Africa and Europe on a cruise aboard the Lancastria with her friend, Betty Spencer, and Spencer's aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Norton, who was the librarian at Transylvania.  In 1926, Haselden took her first flight with a barnstorming pilot as a graduation present from her brother.  Immediately after graduation from Transylvania, Hasleden taught at high schools in Beattyville and Lancaster, Kentucky while attending Columbia herself during the summer studying for a Master's degree.  

Haselden taught French at Centre College, Transylvania University,  Murray State University, and the University of Kentucky. At Murray and Transylvania, she also served as Dean of Women and at the University of Kentucky served as Assistant Dean of Women. She retired from the University of Kentucky in 1973.

Haselden was involved in civil aviation in Kentucky. She obtained her pilot's license in 1941 and soon bought a plane with her friend, Mayrell Johnson.  Their instructor insisted they learn how to land on a football field, since every town in America had one, since in the early days of flight, airports were few and far between. While at Murray State, she was involved in the establishment of the Civil Pilots Training Corp. She was one of only three women who were members of the committee which drafted Kentucky's civil aviation regulations.  Haselden was also the 198th member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization for female pilots founded in 1929 by Amelia Earhart and was honored in 1990 at the Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas.  

September 14, 1903 - Jane Haselden born in Lancaster, KY

1922 Valedictorian Lancaster High School

1922-1924 Attends Hamilton College

1922 Joins Delta Delta Delta sorority 

1922 Joseph S. Haselden "Uncle Joe" (R), elected state representative 

Summer 1925 Travel to Europe on the Lancastria. She visits New York, Spain, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Paris, Oslo, Scotland, London, Tangier, Sweden, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Algiers, Naples

1926 Graduates Cum Laude Transylvania University, A.B. (French and Math double major)

1926 First flight was a graduation gift from Louis Haselden, her brother, as a gift upon her graduation from Transylvania

1926-1927 Teaches at a High School in Beattyville, KY and coached boys and girls basketball teams

1927-1931 Teaches at Lancaster High School (attends Columbia during the summers).

1928 Summer at the University of Michigan

1932 Graduates Columbia University, M.A. (French)

1932 Studies at the University of Paris, Sorbonne

1932-1935 Begins teaching at Center College Assistant Professor of French, also taught Math

1935-1938 Transylvania University Dean of Women, Assistant Professor of French 3 yrs (1935-1938)

1936 Travel to Mexico with group from Transylvania Camping Trip. Group travel in a Transylvania Bus.  Places labeled on list of pictures: San Antonio, Victoria, “Thomas and Charlie” (probably Tamazunchale), Mexico City, Pyramid of the Sun, Corpus Christi.  Possibly visited Lookout Mountain on way back and hot springs on way there

1938-1941 Murray State Dean of Women, Assistant Professor of French 3 yrs, Instrumental in starting a Civilian Pilot’s Training Corp for the College

1941 Receives Pilot’s License while teaching at Murray (WWII era gov’t program allowed civilians to learn to fly) Buys an airplane (with no brakes), eventually sells to gov’t. Becomes a “crack pilot,” and learns to land on a football field

1941 Receives Ph.D. from University of Kentucky (Psychology)

1941-1973 Professor at University of Kentucky Assistant Dean of Women, Assistant Professor of French 17 yrs, Associate Professor of French 14 ½ yrs. Total 32 ½ Retires from UK 1973  Traveled to Europe at least once while at UK for a conference

1960 Visits France for the summer while on Sabbatical, takes a literature course for French professors

1990 Memory Lane honoree International Forest of Friendship, Atchison, KS

March 14, 1991 Dies Lancaster, KY

March 1991 Jane Haselden Exhibit Transylvania University Library

Haselden, Jane, 1903-1991

Johnson, Mayrell

Lancastria

Transylvania University -- Students

Hamilton College -- Students

United States. Navy -- Airmen

Aeronautics -- Kentucky

College students -- Kentucky -- Lexington

Ocean travel

Voyages and travel

Women air pilots

Women air pilots -- Photographs

Europe -- Description and travel

Mexico -- Photographs

North Africa -- Description and travel

Portugal -- Description and travel

Spain -- Description and travel

Photographs

Travel photographs

Transylvania University -- Professors.

University of Kentucky -- Professors.  

Guide created by and materials digitized by Hannah Mooney, class of 2019.