Amelia Earhart

NAME Amelia Earhart

WHAT FAMOUS FOR  Amelia Earhart was a pioneering aviator, best known for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also an author, lecturer, and advocate for women in aviation. 

BIRTH Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, in the home of her maternal grandfather, Alfred Gideon Otis.

FAMILY BACKGROUND She was the second child of Samuel "Edwin" Stanton Earhart, a German American lawyer, and Amelia "Amy" Otis Earhart. Her older sibling was an infant stillborn in August 1896.

Her mother came from a wealthy family but the family experienced financial ups and downs throughout Amelia's childhood

CHILDHOOD Amelia was a spirited and adventurous child, nicknamed "Millie" or "Amy." She enjoyed playing outdoors, collecting insects, and engaging in traditionally "boyish" activities. She was a tomboy and enjoyed activities that were considered non traditional for girls at that time.

Despite her later passion for flying, she was unimpressed when she first saw an airplane at age 10 at the Iowa State Fair, calling it “a thing of rusty wire and wood.”

Amelia Earhart as a child

EDUCATION Amelia Earhart's education was marked by frequent moves and a strong interest in science. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago in 1916, where she excelled in chemistry and science. She was described in her yearbook as “the girl in brown who walks alone.” Throughout her childhood, Earhart attended multiple schools due to her family's frequent relocations.

After high school, Earhart enrolled at the Ogontz School, an exclusive finishing school near Philadelphia, in 1916. However, she did not complete her studies there. Instead, she left in 1918 to volunteer as a nurse's aide at the Spadina Military Hospital in Toronto, caring for wounded World War I soldiers.

Following her time as a nurse's aide, Earhart briefly attended Columbia University in New York in 1919, where she enrolled in a pre-medical program. However, she left after about a year to join her parents in California.

Throughout her education, Earhart demonstrated a keen interest in science and maintained a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about successful women in male-dominated careers4. This early passion for science and adventure would later fuel her aviation career, leading her to take flying lessons in 1921 and eventually become a pioneering aviator. (1)

CAREER RECORD Earhart initially worked as a nurse's aide during World War I, assisting wounded soldiers and victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic. She also worked as a telephone operator, a tutor and a social worker at Denison House, a settlement house in Boston.

Took flying lessons and purchased her first airplane.

1928: First woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger (but she kept the plane's log).

1932: First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

1935 First person to fly solo from Hawaii to California 

APPEARANCE Amelia Earhart had a slender build, short, wavy, sandy-blonde hair, and a distinctive, confident presence. Her boyish looks and windblown style became iconic.

Amelia Earhart 1937

FASHION Earhart was known for her practical and stylish aviation-inspired fashion. She often wore leather jackets, trousers, and aviator scarves, rejecting traditional feminine attire in favor of comfortable, functional clothing suited for flying. 

She launched her own clothing line in 1933, featuring clothes designed by herself. They included sportswear and flight suits, emphasizing comfort and practicality for active women.

CHARACTER Amelia was independent, adventurous, and fearless. She had a determined personality and a deep passion for aviation, defying societal norms for women in her era. Her courage, curiosity, and resilience made her an enduring symbol of exploration and ambition.

SPEAKING VOICE Amelia Earhart’s voice was distinctive—low, steady, and authoritative. Her tone carried a quiet confidence, which made her a compelling speaker. Whether addressing a crowd, delivering radio broadcasts, or advocating for women in aviation, she projected a sense of calm assurance. Some described her voice as slightly husky, a trait that added to her air of seriousness and resolve.

Earhart undertook lecture tours across the United States to share her experiences and promote aviation

SENSE OF HUMOUR Earhart had a dry and understated wit. She often downplayed her accomplishments with humor, once joking that flying was easier than cooking. Despite the intense public scrutiny she faced, she remained lighthearted, poking fun at gender stereotypes and making self-deprecating remarks about her own mechanical skills. She once quipped that she always carried a screwdriver and pliers because “airplanes do not run on good luck.”

RELATIONSHIPS Amelia Earhart married publisher George P. Putnam—known as GP—on February 7, 193 in a civil ceremony at Putnam's mother's house in Noank, Connecticut. The ceremony was quite private, lasting only about five minutes and presided over by Judge Arthur Anderson. Notably, the event was marked by a degree of secrecy, as Earhart was concerned that marriage might interfere with her aviation career and public image as a liberated woman.

Their marriage was unconventional by the standards of the time. Earhart insisted on maintaining her independence and made it clear in a letter before their wedding that she did not believe in lifelong commitments and expected to have personal freedom. Putnam, deeply in love, accepted her terms. Their relationship was built on mutual respect and admiration, with Putnam managing much of her publicity and career.

Earhart and Putnam in 1931

MONEY AND FAME Fame was both a tool and a challenge for Earhart. She leveraged her celebrity status to fund her aviation pursuits, signing endorsement deals, writing books, and even launching her own fashion and luggage lines. Unlike many public figures, she was not motivated by wealth; instead, she saw money as a means to support her passion for flying. She was acutely aware of her influence and used it to champion women’s rights, aviation safety, and commercial air travel.

FOOD AND DRINK During her historic solo transatlantic flight on May 21, 1932, Earhart packed a vacuum bottle of hot soup, three cans of tomato soup, and a toothbrush for the journey. She was a practical eater, favoring simple, easy-to-carry foods when flying. Despite her pioneering spirit in aviation, her food choices were remarkably straightforward.

MUSIC AND ARTS Earhart had an appreciation for the arts. She admired creative expression and often attended cultural events. 

When she became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California on January 11, 1935, her trailblazing flight went so smoothly that in her final hours, she could relax and listen to the broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera from New York.

She was also involved in fashion, designing a line of cotton and parachute-silk separates under the brand Amelia Earhart Fashions. These affordable garments, sold at Macy’s and Marshall Field’s, reflected her pragmatic yet stylish sensibilities.

LITERATURE Earhart was an avid reader and writer. She authored several books about her flying experiences, including 20 Hrs., 40 Min. (1928) and The Fun of It (1932). She was influenced by adventure stories and biographies of explorers, which fueled her love for aviation. As a writer, she had a direct and engaging style, making aviation accessible to the public.

She served as an aviation editor for Cosmopolitan magazine.

NATURE Earhart had a deep appreciation for nature, often expressing a love for open spaces and the thrill of being above the clouds. Flying, for her, was a way to experience the vastness of the world and see landscapes from an entirely new perspective. She also enjoyed outdoor activities, particularly hiking and exploring new terrain.

PETS James Ferocious was Amelia Earhart's childhood dog, a large black canine that played a significant role in her early life. Though loving towards Amelia, the dog was unfriendly with strangers and was kept tied to a shed when outside due to his temperament

An incident involving James Ferocious when Amelia was six years old demonstrated her early courage and composure. When the dog broke free from his chain to chase some teasing neighborhood boys, young Amelia calmly took control of the situation, showing her ability to handle a scary scenario without fear. (2)

Though her lifestyle as a pilot made it difficult to keep pets, she was fond of animals and often connected with them during her travels.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Earhart was athletic and adventurous. Before she became a pilot, she played basketball, went sledding, and even took auto mechanics classes. She enjoyed activities that challenged her physically and mentally, always eager to push boundaries. She also sewed her own clothes for years, a skill she carried into adulthood when she designed her own fashion line.

She learned to use a .22 caliber rifle, which she used to hunt rats in her father's barn

SCIENCE AND MATHS Earhart showed a keen interest in science from a young age. She excelled in chemistry during high school and briefly pursued pre-medical studies at Columbia University

As one of the most famous aviators in history, Earhart had a keen understanding of aerodynamics, navigation, and engineering. She worked closely with experts in aviation technology and was deeply involved in flight planning. She also played a role in promoting commercial air travel, working with Charles Lindbergh to establish Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT), a precursor to modern airlines.

ACTIVISM  Earhart was passionate about advancing women's rights and encouraging women to pursue non-traditional careers. She was involved in organizations like the National Woman's Party and supported the Equal Rights Amendment.  Earhart worked with Eleanor Roosevelt to promote women’s participation in aviation and often used her fame to highlight issues related to gender inequality. 

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Amelia Earhart believed in the power of perseverance, independence, and courage. She often spoke about the importance of women pushing beyond societal boundaries and was an advocate for gender equality. Though she was not openly religious, she had a deep belief in self-determination and personal freedom, often emphasizing the idea that life should be lived to the fullest. Her famous quote, "The most effective way to do it, is to do it," reflected her hands-on, fearless approach to life.

POLITICS Earhart was a staunch advocate for women’s rights and an outspoken supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment. She was also a pacifist, expressing concerns about war and violence, particularly after witnessing the suffering of World War I soldiers during her time as a nurse’s aide.

SCANDAL One of the most controversial aspects of Earhart’s life was her insistence on an open marriage with her husband, publisher George P. Putnam. She famously included a clause in her prenup stating that she would not be bound by traditional expectations of monogamy. 

Conspiracy theories about her disappearance fueled speculation, with some believing she was captured by the Japanese or secretly lived under an assumed identity.

MILITARY RECORD Amelia Earhart contributed to wartime efforts as a volunteer nurse’s aide. During World War I, she worked at Toronto’s Spadina Military Hospital, where she cared for wounded soldiers and victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for aviation, spending her free time at hangars and flying fields, talking to pilots and watching aerial demonstrations.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Earhart maintained an active lifestyle and was in good physical shape for most of her life. She enjoyed outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and horseback riding. 

Photo of Earhart from her book 20 Hrs. 40 Min. (1928)

However, her time as a nurse’s aide exposed her to severe illnesses, and she suffered from chronic sinus infections that occasionally affected her flights. Despite this, she remained dedicated to her aviation career and pushed through discomfort to achieve her goals.

HOMES Earhart grew up in Kansas but moved frequently throughout her life. She lived in various places, including Toronto, where she worked as a nurse’s aide, and Boston, where she worked as a social worker at Denison House. Later, she and her husband, George Putnam, made their home in North Hollywood, California, where she kept many of her aviation records and memorabilia.

TRAVEL In 1924, following her parents' divorce, Amelia Earhart and her mother embarked on an audacious transcontinental road trip, a journey that would etch itself into the annals of early automotive adventures. Their chariot was no ordinary vehicle; it was a vibrant 1922 Kissel Gold Bug Speedster, a canary-yellow marvel that Earhart affectionately dubbed the "Yellow Peril." This striking car became a character in itself, drawing attention wherever it went.

Their route was as ambitious as their spirit. They set off from California, tracing the West Coast northwards into Washington state, before venturing into the vast expanse of Canada. The majestic landscapes of Banff and Lake Louise in Alberta provided a breathtaking backdrop to their travels. From Canada, they steered southwards, traversing the heart of America through Chicago, before finally reaching their destination, Boston.

This epic journey, spanning approximately 7,000 miles, took roughly six weeks to complete. In an era where roads outside major cities were often little more than rough tracks, this cross-country automobile trip was a testament to their courage and resilience. The "Yellow Peril," with its conspicuous color and two women traveling independently, became a spectacle, attracting curious onlookers at every stop. Earhart and her mother, undeterred by the challenges of the road, embraced the adventure, leaving a trail of fascinated onlookers and a story that echoed the pioneering spirit of the age.

AVIATION CAREER Amelia Earhart's aviation career was a whirlwind of remarkable firsts, records, and achievements, all wrapped up in the kind of daring and curiosity that only a true pioneer possesses. It all began, somewhat fittingly, on the ground—well, technically, in the air, but not quite as lofty as it would become. In January 1921, a young and determined Earhart took her first flying lessons with Neta Snook, a pioneering instructor in her own right. By the summer of that year, she was already a plane owner—her very own Kinner Airster, which she affectionately dubbed “The Canary.” The bird in question had wings, but it would be Amelia who would soar.

Her early flights were far from merely practice; they were the prelude to something extraordinary. In October 1922, Earhart set her first official record: the women’s altitude record, which she set by reaching an astonishing 14,000 feet. It was a feat that demonstrated not only her technical skill but also her fearless ambition.

But it was on June 18, 1928, when she flew across the Atlantic as a passenger (the first woman to do so, no less), that Earhart became a household name. The flight itself was long, arduous, and fraught with danger, taking 20 hours and 40 minutes. It was a remarkable achievement for anyone, but for Amelia, it was just the beginning. 

On May 20-21, 1932, she etched her name into the history books once again, this time as the first woman—and only the second person, after Charles Lindbergh—to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic.

Of course, Earhart was far from done. She continued to rack up records like they were souvenirs from a trip around the world:  first, she flew solo from Honolulu to Oakland, then from Los Angeles to Mexico City, and then, in a particularly astonishing feat, from Mexico City to Newark. The sky was no longer the limit for Amelia Earhart; it seemed to be her canvas.

But Earhart's achievements didn’t stop with flight. She was deeply involved in shaping the future of aviation, particularly for women. She served as an official with the National Aeronautic Association and helped organize, and became vice president of, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington Airways. In 1935, she took on yet another role, this time as a faculty member at Purdue University, where she served as an advisor in aeronautical engineering and a career counselor for female students.

Her greatest legacy, however, might just be the way she paved the way for women in aviation. She was the driving force behind the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization of female pilots, and served as its first president. She had a way of showing the world, quite literally, that women could fly just as high as anyone else.

DEATH Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937, while attempting to make the first equatorial round-the-world flight. She was declared dead on January 5, 1939. While the official story is that she was lost at sea, some researchers believe she survived and sent distress signals for weeks, only for authorities to dismiss them as hoaxes. Evidence suggests she and Noonan may have landed on an uninhabited atoll in the southwestern Pacific republic of Kiribati and ultimately perished as castaways.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Amelia’s first major media appearance came after her historic 1928 transatlantic flight as a passenger. While the flight itself was groundbreaking, it was the media frenzy surrounding her arrival that truly marked the beginning of her public career. Newspapers around the world hailed her as a pioneering woman, a "Lady Lindy," after Charles Lindbergh’s famous solo transatlantic flight the previous year. She quickly became an international sensation.

After becoming the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic in 1932, Earhart was met with a hero’s welcome back home. Her media tour following this achievement cemented her status as an icon. She was featured on the covers of magazines like Time and Life, and was celebrated not just as an aviator, but as a symbol of modern womanhood and independence. Her appearance in the press also gave her an opportunity to speak on the issues of gender equality and women’s rights, areas she passionately championed.

Throughout the 1930s, Earhart was a regular fixture on magazine covers, including Vogue, The Saturday Evening Post, and Collier's. These appearances often featured her discussing her flying adventures, but also highlighted her personality and thoughts on society’s expectations of women. Through interviews and articles, she became a well-known advocate for women’s rights, particularly encouraging women to pursue careers in fields typically dominated by men.

Her legacy continues to inspire, with numerous books, films, and documentaries about her life. She has been portrayed in movies such as Amelia (2009), starring Hilary Swank, and has appeared in TV series, literature, and even animated shows.

ACHIEVEMENTS First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Set numerous speed and distance records.

Advocate for women in aviation.

Symbol of courage and determination.

Sources (1) PBS (2) Famous Dogs In History