In the US, Stout Airways was the first to employ stewards in 1926, working on Ford Trimotor planes between Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)  in 1929) were the first US carriers to employ stewards to serve food. Ten-passenger Fokker aircraft (German made) used in the Caribbean had stewards in the era of gambling trips to Havana, Cuba from Key West, Florida. Lead stewards would in many instances also perform the role of purser, steward, or chief steward in modern aviation terminology. 

The first female steward was a 25-year-old registered nurse named Ellen Church. Hired by United Airlines in 1930, she was also the first to envision nurses on  commercial flights. She was actively engaged with United Airlines in Crafting the new postilion in the upcoming commercial aviation industry. The position was soon reserved exclusively to registered Nurses. Other airlines followed United Airlines lead, hiring nurses as well, renaming the new job tittle as "stewardesses" or "air hostesses", and they were employed on most flights. The up and coming flying public were stand offish of the concept of Air Travel, and the idea of the stewardess being staffed exclusively by registered Nurses was comforting and well received.

 In the 1930s Registered Nurse were exclusively made up of women. Female stewardess rapidly replaced male stewards,and by 1936, had taken over the Job. As planes became larger and routes became longer more  stewardesses were needed for passengers  and a gang on each long haul flight were known as the "Cabin crew" which by now outnumbered the "flight crew" (who operated the Aircraft).

In the United States, stewardesses were required to be unmarried and were fired if they decided to wed (in the early years of aviation  it was actually considered a high risk occupation not suitable for Mothers). The requirement to be a registered nurse on  American carriers was relaxed out of necessity and disappeared almost entirely during World War II as many nurses joined military nurse corps. 

In 1966 the hiring standards for stewardesses was as follows: "A high school graduate, single (widows and divorcees with no children considered), 20 years of age (girls 19? and a 1?2 may apply for future consideration). 5'2" but no more than 5'9", weight 105 to 135 in proportion to height and have at least 20/40 vision without glasses."

With entry of the Jet age and the Civil Right Act of 1964 Stewardess challenged some of the Airline rigged and arcane hiring standards. In 1968, the courts ruled age restrictions on  employment  Stewardesses were out of bounds. The restriction of hiring only women was lifted by all airlines in 1971 as the courts ruled that "sex was not a bona fide occupational requirement to be a flight attendant". The no-marriage rule was eliminated throughout the US airline industry by the 1980s. The last such broad categorical discrimination, weight restrictions, were relaxed in the 1990s through litigation and negotiations with the Unions.

The Golden age of Air travel was unfortunate short lived and service slowly deteriorated starting around 1976, and still declines to this day. 

Some foreign Carriers such as Korean Air Lines, Singapore Air, and a handful of other foreign carriers still hold fast to the Golden age which is more or less a bygone era. However the American Stewardess role in Commercial aviation can not be understated, ignored, or taken lightly and she remains as inspirational heroin as the Nurses that first took the role, and other Iconic American women that moved the Untied States forward before and after World War II. She epitomized; glamour, class, intelligence, air safety, hard work, strength, courage and the ultimate in customer service. The American Stewardess set high standards for other nations to follow.

 

This doll would be a fine piece for any collection. It would also put a smile on the face of any retired Flight crew, Cabin crew, or ground crewman of the Golden age of Air Travel.