Ladya

Ladya (“Lydia”) Kalishek was born in Menominee County, Michigan, in 1900, the eldest of six children born to Mary and Conrad Kalishek. Known within her family as “Lady” or “Lydia,” she relocated with her family to Delta County, Michigan, by 1910. By the early 1920s, she had moved to Wisconsin, where she began working as a journalist and soon became involved in aviation. 

Lydia received early flight instruction around 1920, including training alongside her sister Sarah Kalishek. By the mid-1920s, she was recognized as an experienced commercial flyer and aviation organizer. In 1927, she led efforts to establish aviation coursework within Milwaukee’s vocational school system, advocating for structured aviation education at a time when formal instruction was still rare. 

She organized and served as secretary of the Milwaukee Light Plane Club, which grew rapidly to approximately fifty members. She and 49 male club members constructed aircraft in barns, sheds, and private workshops and met regularly to exchange technical knowledge related to light aircraft and monoplane development. 

In 1928, Lydia announced and helped organize the first national “baby plane” aviation contest in Milwaukee. That same year, she played a central role in organizing Wisconsin’s first aircraft exposition, which became the third such exhibition held in the United States. By late 1928, she was affiliated with North American Airways of Appleton and organized a fifteen-member flying squadron that became the Green Bay Squadron of the Wisconsin Civic Air Service. 

During this period, Lydia also established an aviation school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, offering both ground instruction and flight training. Her headquarters were located at the Hotel Northland, and the school operated with a fleet of ten aircraft. She emphasized the need for well-trained instructors and supported emerging university-level aeronautical programs funded by the Guggenheim Foundation. 

Contemporary newspapers frequently cited Lydia as one of the most active promoters of commercial aviation in the United States. In 1928, she served as chairman of the entry department for the Wisconsin Aircraft and Accessory Exhibition, press chairman for the American Woman’s Air Council, and secretary of the Milwaukee Light Plane Club. 

In 1929, Lydia became the first woman known to manage a municipal airport when she assumed management of the Neenah Airport in Wisconsin. She was also recognized nationally as a consultant for the planning and establishment of new airports. Throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s, she traveled extensively, delivering lectures on airport construction, aviation infrastructure, and the future of commercial air transportation. 

By 1934, Lydia relocated to Santa Monica, California. Having accumulated nearly fifteen years of aviation experience and holding a transport pilot’s license, she was appointed manager of Clover Field Airport by Public Works Commissioner H. C. Sanborn. At the time of her appointment, she was identified as the only female municipal airport manager in the western United States. 

In 1936, political changes within the Santa Monica municipal government led to efforts to remove Lydia from her position. Contemporary newspaper coverage documented her refusal to resign without formal dismissal, making her a notable figure in public discussions surrounding women in aviation leadership roles. 

Lydia Kalishek is historically recognized as one of the earliest women to manage municipal airports in the United States and as a national advocate for the development of commercial aviation infrastructure. In addition, she held a U.S. Department of Commerce transport pilot’s license. 

Later in life, Lydia married H. C. Sanborn and remained active in civic and charitable efforts. She retained close ties to her family and to Gladstone, Michigan, where she supported local beautification efforts. She later retired from the California Employment Development Department and maintained interests in aviation throughout her life. Lydia Kalishek Sanborn lived in Santa Monica until her death at age 97.