Jacket, Suit, Flying, Civilian, Ninety-Nines
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart designed this practical two-piece flying suit for the Ninety-Nines, an organization of women pilots. Although the group never formally adopted the suit, the interlocking "9s" eventually became their logo.
The Ninety Nines was established shortly after the 1929 Women's National Air Derby when a group of women pilots met to form an organization for social, recruitment, and business purposes. There were ninety-nine charter members, hence the organization's name. Earhart, always a strong supporter of women in aviation, served as the club's first president.
National Air and Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum
1930
Usage conditions apply
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Amelia Earhart in an autogiro
Amelia Earhart
Much experimentation in aeronautical design was occurring at this time. Earhart showed great interest in such work and became involved in testing several new planes. In this photograph she poses in an autogiro, an airplane with a conventional fuselage and four large rotor blades mounted above it. Although it was slow and awkward to handle, the plane had the advantage of being able to take off and land in a relatively short distance. Many admired the autogiro, including Thomas Edison, and Earhart became friends with its American manufacturer, Harold Pitcairn. In 1931 Earhart set an altitude record in the autogiro and later became the first person to pilot it across the country and back. That said, the plane was only slightly faster than a car on the open road; furthermore, it was more accident-prone that other airplanes. Earhart liked the autogiro but ultimately found it impractical for the long-distance flying that she enjoyed.
Underwood & Underwood
National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
1930
Usage conditions apply
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Mexico-New York flight cover signed by Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart is best known as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, which she did in 1932. She set many more records, including three years later being the first person to fly solo nonstop from Mexico City to Newark, New Jersey (destination New York City) on May 8-9. Mexico issued a special overprinted stamp for this goodwill flight. She carried approximately thirty-five covers with the special overprinted stamps.
Earhart autographed this registered envelope, addressed to her husband, George Palmer Putnam, a publisher in New York City. The Mexican stamps were cancelled before departure and the US stamps on arrival.
This flown piece of mail is part of Earhart's personal collection, donated to the Smithsonian in 1968 by Elsie M. Williamson. Williamson had acquired the collection directly from Earhart's husband with the assistance of stamp dealer Jacques Minkus of Gimbel Galleries.
National Postal Museum
National Postal Museum
May 8-9, 1935
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Amelia Earhart transatlantic flight cover
Amelia Earhart
One of three covers carried by Amelia Earhart on her flight from Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland to Burry Port, Wales on June 21, 1928. Addressed to Lord Edward Morris of London. Four Newfoundland stamps affixed, Scott 130-134; one Great Britain stamp affixed, Scott 189. From Album 1 of the collection.
National Postal Museum
National Postal Museum
1928
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Amelia Earhart signed cover
Amelia Earhart
Boston Commemorative airmail cover signed by Amelia Earhart, Lou Gordon and W.L. Stultz. Addressed to Amelia Earhart, Boston, MA. US stamp affixed, Scott C7. From Album 1 of the collection.
National Postal Museum
National Postal Museum
July 9, 1928
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Amelia Earhart at Hyde Park High School in Chicago
Amelia Earhart
After the Friendship flight, Earhart was flooded with invitations to speak to different groups. Because she had lived outside of Chicago for several years, many invitations came from that area. In mid-July she traveled to Chicago, where she was greeted by the mayor and a huge crowd of admirers. Among the highlights of her visit was a trip to the high school from which she had graduated in 1915. This photograph shows her with students at Hyde Park High School. During this same time, Earhart had also teamed with publicist George Putnam to write an account of her transatlantic trip, 20 Hrs., 40 Min. Drafted in a mere six weeks, this book and Earhart’s subsequent national lecture tour made her the public face not only for women in aviation but also for the changing role of women in American society.
Underwood & Underwood
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Jul 20, 1928
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Amelia Earhart and Frank Hawks
Amelia Earhart
Frank Hawks (1897–1938) took Amelia Earhart on her first airplane ride in 1921. An ex-Army officer, he worked at an airstrip in Los Angeles, where he gave flying lessons and performed stunts in local air shows. Although the flight excited her, she didn’t feel comfortable taking lessons with Hawks. Instead, she approached Neta Snook, the only female flight instructor in California. Snook was only a year older than Earhart but had graduated from the well-regarded Curtiss School of Aviation in Newport News, Virginia. Hawks went on to achieve multiple aviation records in a prestigious flying career, although he died in a plane crash in 1938.
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
1930
Usage conditions apply
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Amelia Earhart and George P. Putnam
Amelia Earhart
Accompanied by her husband, George Palmer Putnam, Amelia Earhart, only solo flier of both Atlanic and Pacific oceans, arrived in New York after an airplane flight across the continent.
Associated Press AP Wirephoto
Oklahoma Historical Society
Oklahoma Historical Society
1935
Private
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Amelia Earhart and George P. Putnam
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart Putnam Aviatrix, George Palmer Putnam, Publisher & husband of Amelia Earhart.
Oklahoma Historical Society
Oklahoma Historical Society
1937
Educational/Private Use
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Amelia Earhart and George P. Putnam
Amelia Earhart
George Palmer Putnam & wife, Explorer & Publisher, Amelia Earhart Putnam Aviatrix
Associated Press AP Wirephoto
Oklahoma Historical Society
Oklahoma Historical Society
March 23, 1937.
Educational/Private Use
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