Law, Ruth, 1887-1970

Ruth Law Oliver (May 21, 1887 - December 1, 1970), pioneer American aviator during the 1910s.

She was born Ruth Bancroft Law on May 21, 1887 to Sarah Bancroft Breed and Frederick Henry Law in Lynn, Massachusetts.

She was inspired to take up flying by her brother, parachutist and pioneer movie stuntman Rodman Law (1885–1919), with whom she challenged herself to physically keep up during their childhood.

She was instructed by Harry Atwood and Arch Freeman at Atwood Park in Saugus, Massachusetts, having been refused lessons by Orville Wright because, according to Law, he believed that women weren't mechanically inclined, but this only made her more determined, later saying "The surest way to make me do a thing is to tell me I can't do it." She was an adept mechanic. She received her pilot's license in November 1912, and in 1915 gave a demonstration of aerobatics at Daytona Beach, Florida, before a large crowd. She announced that she was going to "loop the loop" for the first time, and proceeded to do so, not once but twice, to the consternation of her husband, Charles Oliver ...