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Marie Surcouf
Marie Surcouf (19 May 1863 – 11 March 1928) was a French balloonist and feminist. In 1906, she was the first French woman to earn an aeronautical balloon pilot's license and later that year she became the first French woman to pilot a balloon flight with an all-woman crew. Surcouf founded the women's aeronautical club Aéroclub féminin la Stella and served as its president.
Marie Valentine Nelly Bayard was born on 19 May 1863 at Ham (Somme) the daughter of Félicie (née Pollet) and Ernest Julien Bayard.
On 7 February 1882, she married Alberic Roussel (1853–1904), a medical doctor. They had two children: Pierre Roussel, (9 – 22 April 1886) and André Roussel (1888–1968). André later became a dirigible pilot. The couple lived at 5 rue Charlot, in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. On 31 July 1896, she divorced Alberic Roussel.
On 20 September 1897, Marie married Édouard Surcouf, engineer and balloonist in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. She became famous for her aeronautical adventures under her married name, Marie Surcouf. The couple later divorced on 29 November 1916.
Marie Surcouf's husband Edouard Surcouf was a member of the Aeronautique Club de France (ACDF), an aerostatic association founded in October 1897. He had been a member since May 1902 but club statutes agreed in 1902, did not admit women as members in any capacity.
At a meeting of the Management Committee on 27 October 1903, the club President, Jules Saunière, raised the question of recognizing women as a member of the ACDF, inspired by the number of women participating in balloon ascents or related to the men in the club and interested in its work. It took until the Management Committee meeting on 8 May 1904 for an agreement that women related to ACDF members could officially participate in the balloon ascensions, for the not inconsiderable sum of 80 French francs. At the AGM held on 21 October 1904, article 4 of the statutes were modified to allow "Ladies related to club members" to be admitted with “the same rights and advantages […] and the same obligations" as male members, with the restriction, that they could not be part of the Management Committee. If they were to participate in balloon ascents, it must only be done in the company of one of their two sponsors.
On 14 November 1904, the first women registered as honorary members of the ACDF. They were Madame Saunière, wife of the president, Madame Gritte and Madame Marie Surcouf. In January 1906, a women's committee Comité des Dames de l'ACDF was formed and the first meeting was held on 2 February, with its rules adopted on 6 February by the main ACDF Executive Committee. Marie Surcouf was elected as chairwoman, the vice-chairman was Mrs. Saunière, the wife of the Chairman of the ACDF, and the Secretary was Miss Gache.
From March 1906, new members joined the Women's Committee and it began to expand with the first Women's Committee event taking place on 24 May 1906 at the ACDF's balloon park, located at the Rueil gas factory for easy access to the lighter than air gases required to lift the balloons. Around 600 people gathered to watch ascents and balloon releases.
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Marie Surcouf
Marie Surcouf (19 May 1863 – 11 March 1928) was a French balloonist and feminist. In 1906, she was the first French woman to earn an aeronautical balloon pilot's license and later that year she became the first French woman to pilot a balloon flight with an all-woman crew. Surcouf founded the women's aeronautical club Aéroclub féminin la Stella and served as its president.
Marie Valentine Nelly Bayard was born on 19 May 1863 at Ham (Somme) the daughter of Félicie (née Pollet) and Ernest Julien Bayard.
On 7 February 1882, she married Alberic Roussel (1853–1904), a medical doctor. They had two children: Pierre Roussel, (9 – 22 April 1886) and André Roussel (1888–1968). André later became a dirigible pilot. The couple lived at 5 rue Charlot, in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. On 31 July 1896, she divorced Alberic Roussel.
On 20 September 1897, Marie married Édouard Surcouf, engineer and balloonist in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. She became famous for her aeronautical adventures under her married name, Marie Surcouf. The couple later divorced on 29 November 1916.
Marie Surcouf's husband Edouard Surcouf was a member of the Aeronautique Club de France (ACDF), an aerostatic association founded in October 1897. He had been a member since May 1902 but club statutes agreed in 1902, did not admit women as members in any capacity.
At a meeting of the Management Committee on 27 October 1903, the club President, Jules Saunière, raised the question of recognizing women as a member of the ACDF, inspired by the number of women participating in balloon ascents or related to the men in the club and interested in its work. It took until the Management Committee meeting on 8 May 1904 for an agreement that women related to ACDF members could officially participate in the balloon ascensions, for the not inconsiderable sum of 80 French francs. At the AGM held on 21 October 1904, article 4 of the statutes were modified to allow "Ladies related to club members" to be admitted with “the same rights and advantages […] and the same obligations" as male members, with the restriction, that they could not be part of the Management Committee. If they were to participate in balloon ascents, it must only be done in the company of one of their two sponsors.
On 14 November 1904, the first women registered as honorary members of the ACDF. They were Madame Saunière, wife of the president, Madame Gritte and Madame Marie Surcouf. In January 1906, a women's committee Comité des Dames de l'ACDF was formed and the first meeting was held on 2 February, with its rules adopted on 6 February by the main ACDF Executive Committee. Marie Surcouf was elected as chairwoman, the vice-chairman was Mrs. Saunière, the wife of the Chairman of the ACDF, and the Secretary was Miss Gache.
From March 1906, new members joined the Women's Committee and it began to expand with the first Women's Committee event taking place on 24 May 1906 at the ACDF's balloon park, located at the Rueil gas factory for easy access to the lighter than air gases required to lift the balloons. Around 600 people gathered to watch ascents and balloon releases.