Mary Meader

Rachael Mary Upjohn Light Meader (April 15, 1916 – March 16, 2008) was an American aerial photographer and explorer. Heir to the Upjohn Company fortune, she is best known in aerial circles for her 1937–1938 35,000-mile (56,000 km) flight in which she photographed unprecedented images of South America and Africa. Her African photographs were later featured in the book Focus on Africa. In her later years, she also became known in her native Kalamazoo, Michigan, for her immense philanthropy to Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and various Kalamazoo charities. Mary Meader was born to William H. and Genevieve Upjohn in Kalamazoo, Michigan on April 15, 1916, a grandchild of Dr. W. E. Upjohn, the founder of the...