Janet Harmon Waterford Bragg
1907 – 1993
REGISTERED NURSE, AVIATOR, ENTREPRENUER
She was the first African American woman in the United States to hold a full Commercial Pilot License.
Founder of National Association of American Airmen with Willa Brown, designed to represent the nascent profession to the government.
I’M NOT AFRAID OF TOMORROW BECAUSE I’VE SEEN YESTERDAY, AND TODAY IS BEAUTIFUL.”
Janet Harmon was born on March 24, 1907 in Griffin, Georgia. Her parents were Cordia Batts Harmon and Samuel Harmon, a brick contractor. Harmon’s maternal grandfather was a freed slave of Spanish descent, and her maternal grandmother was a Cherokee. The family faith was Episcopalians. She was the youngest out of the seven children. She went into the nursing program at the historical Institutions Spellman College and MacBicar Hospital. She was an excellent student who applied herself to all of the necessary academics and hands on training in doing so she completed and received her registered nurse (R.N.) degree in 1929.
The same year (1942), however, she was awarded her license by another examiner after 30-40 minutes of flight at Pal-Waukee Field, Illinois. In 1953 she fell in love met and married Mr. Sumner Bragg. Together they managed nursing homes for the elderly in Chicago until they retired together in 1972. Janet husband passed away in 1986.
