True Life Tuesday: Alice Huyler Ramsey

Alice Taylor Huyler was born on November 11, 1886 in New Barbados, New Jersey. Her parents were John Edwin Huyler, a lumber dealer, and Ada Mumford Farr. She attended Vassar College from 1903-1905. On January 10, 1906 she married Congressman John R. Ramsey. The couple had 2 children John Rathbone Ramsey (born 1907) and Alice Valleau Ramsey (born 1910). 

In 1908 John bought Alice a new Maxwell runabout. She loved the car and ended up driving it over 6,000 miles near their home in Hackensack, New Jersey. In September 1908 she entered the Montauk Point endurance race. She was one of two women who entered the race. While there she was approached by Carl Kelsey, a fellow racer who did publicity for Maxwell-Briscoe that she should attempt a transcontinental drive. On June 9, 1909 she began a 3,800 mile journey from New York City to San Francisco. She was driving a green, 4 cylinder 30HP Maxwell DA. She was joined by 2 of her sister-in-law and her friend, None of the women who went with her could drive. The group arrived in San Francisco on August 7th, about 3 weeks behind schedule, to great fanfare. This made Alice the first woman to drive across the country at a time when women were discouraged from driving. The group used maps from AAA to plan their trip but only 152 miles of road were paved. 

From 1908 to 1975 Alice drove across country over 30 times. She was named Woman Motorist of the Century by AAA in 1960. In 1961 she wrote the story of her journey - Veil, Duster and Tire Iron. She passed away on September 10, 1983 in Covina, California. She was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on October 17, 2000.