Irene Ryan was born in Boston in 1909 and relocated to Alaska on June 23, 1932. She helped challenge gender barriers when she became the first woman to successfully complete a solo flight in the territory of Alaska. During her time in the Last Frontier she worked for the Civilian Aeronautics Authority (CAA) designing airfields. She served in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives, and later served in the state Senate after Alaska became a state.

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