Dates

• Existence: 1914 September 14 - 1996 June 10

Biographical Note: Nadine A. Jeppesen

Nadine A. Jeppesen was an early flight attendant (stewardess) for United Airlines and contributed to the field of air navigation as a co-founder of Jeppesen and Company.

Nadine Audrey (Liscomb) Jeppesen was born on September 14, 1914, in Boyer Township, Iowa to Georgia M. Ferrill and Chauncey E. Liscomb.

Nadine moved to Omaha, Nebraska where, in 1934, she received her nursing license and began training as a stewardess. After completing her training, Nadine began working as a stewardess for United Airlines on the Boeing Model 247 aircraft. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Elrey B. Jeppesen. The two were married on September 24th, 1936.

After marrying EBJ, due to corporate policy, Nadine was no longer able to work as a United Airlines stewardess. She joined him on a business venture creating a flight chart business called Jeppesen and Company. While Jeppesen had been developing the Jeppesen Airway Manual based off his “Little Black Book” since 1934, the company really took off when they established a business plan in the basement of their home in Salt Lake City, Utah. While EBJ remained a pilot with UAL, Nadine took over much of the administrative work. She hired cartographers, helped design and write the copy for promotional procedures, and took charge of accounting and billing. In addition, Nadine traveled with EBJ to collect data to include in the manual. In 1939, Nadine was voted one of the directors of the Salt Lake City chapter of the Women's National Aeronautic Association.

The couple moved to Denver, Colorado in 1941, where Nadine managed the storefront for the Jeppesen Flight Chart store on East Colfax Avenue. She remained with the company until it was sold in 1961 to Times-Mirror Company.

Nadine was awarded the 1994 National Aeronautic Association's Katharine Wright Award, and in 1995 was inducted into the Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame.

Nadine and EBJ had two children together, Jim and Richard.

Nadine A. Jeppesen passed away on June 10, 1996, in Denver, Colorado.

Biographical note derived from collection materials.

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