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"Adventure is worthwhile in itself."--Amelia Earhart "I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others."--Amelia Earhart |
By DA Watson
Franklin Adams, seven years older than Harriet, was also a native of Stockton, California. His father had come to Monterey, California, in 1844 as a teenager, and later became superintendent of the Stockton Gas and Electric Company. Frank, after graduating from Stockton High School and studying to be an electrical engineer, followed his father and older brother Henry to work at the same company.
Harriet’s father and Frank’s brother Henry were business partners, and Henry married a cousin of Harriet’s, so the two had ample time and opportunity to get to know each other. It is said that Frank was fascinated by Harriet’s love of adventure and her knowledge of philosophy, history and languages. The petite brunette soon fell in love with the serious, yet adventurous, young man, and the two were married on October 5, 1899.
They did not go on a honeymoon immediately following their wedding, but swore to travel as soon as they were financially able to do so. As a means to this end, they chose to reside in a local rooming house rather than buy a house of their own. They did travel locally, however, especially by that new fangled contraption, the automobile. The couple traveled extensively throughout California via automobile, train and horse during their first year of marriage. The next year, Frank was offered work on an engineering survey in Mexico, and they turned the trip into an extended honeymoon.
Harriet fell in love with Mexico, especially the rural areas. She became especially passionate about historical landmarks and Indian and Mayan archaeological sites. She found Mexico to be full of culture and history of which she had previously been unaware, and was determined to learn as much as she could. She began to actively search out and explore archaeological sites.
At the time of Harriet’s first travels to Mexico, the exploration and study of the Mayan, Aztec, and other native cultures was a new field. Much of what is available for study today was at that time as yet still buried. Each discovery thrilled Harriet, and made her want to explore even more.
Harriet turned out to be an excellent traveling companion for her surveying husband. She was quick to adapt to any accommodations, no matter how small or rough, even to camping out in the wild. When Frank had completed his job, Harriet urged him to find more survey work. She was anxious to spend even more time traveling and learning. With Harriet’s urging and support, Frank took a job with the Pan American Union. He joined their staff in 1907, and stayed there until his retirement in 1934.
Frank and Harriet returned to Stockton, and took up residence at the Imperial Hotel. They started to plan future journeys, and waited for their chance.
Next: Harriet in South America.
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| Women Who Dared II |
 A beautiful and inspirational poster with pictures and short vignettes of "women who dared." |
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| American Experience: Around the World in 72 Days (1997) |
 PBS Home Video. Many called her "the best reporter in America," and Nellie Bly truly achieved amazing successes. She got herself committed to an institution to expose abuses of the mentally ill and actually did travel around the world in 72 days. Discover the woman behind these and many other astonishing feats -- a serious yet spunky celebrity who mastered life through her cunning and wit. |
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| The Hawaiian Archipelago |
 By Isabella Bird. Six Months Among the Palm Groves, Coral Reefs and Volcanoes of the Sandwich Islands. |
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| Women of Discovery |
 A Celebration of Intrepid Women Who Explored the World by Milbry Polk, Mary Tiegreen. Across the centuries and from many lands, women have set forth on journeys of exploration. Visionaries, adventurers, artists, and scientists, these women challenged the limitations, both physical and social, of their times and, in the face of formidable challenges, expanded the world's body of knowledge. Yet despite their extraordinary achievements, they have remained unknown and unsung for too long. |
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| Amelia Earhart : A Biography |
 By Doris L. Rich. "Rich's portrait reveals a determined, independent woman, brave enough "to go where no one had gone and to do what no one had done" . . . [and] illuminates the public and private life of a legendary flier, bringing her back to earth as a courageous woman who dreamed and dared all." (Christian Science Monitor) |