Amelia Earhart

The personal papers of aviator Amelia Earhart will soon become more accessible to visitors and scholars thanks in part to a new climate-controlled archive that is being built on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Purdue Libraries’ and Special Collections Center will house Purdue University’s rare collections, including those of Earhart, a former lecturer at the University.

Purdue is home to the George Palmer Putnam collection of Amelia Earhart papers, the world’s largest collection of papers, memorabilia and artifacts related to the late aviator. The collection documents the personal life, aviation career and business activities of Earhart. The papers are divided into seven categories, from Earhart’s flying career to oversized materials.

“We will be able to preserve the unique collections and attract valuable private collections of generations of distinguished Purdue alumni,” said James L. Mullins, dean of libraries.

The 12,368-square-foot center has a price tag of approximately $2.7 million and will be equipped with both security and fire-suppression systems to protect the papers. Plans also call for a scholarly research reading room and a classroom for up to 30 people.

Construction is scheduled to begin next October and be complete by August 2008.

Earhart served as a counselor in the study of careers for women and an advisor in aeronautics at Purdue University in 1935. One year later, she purchased a Lockheed Electra airplane with funds from the Purdue Research Foundation. With her new plane Earhart began planning a world flight at the equator.

For more information about the George Palmer Putnam collection of Amelia Earhart papers at Purdue University, visit their Web site at www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol/aearhart/.

Amelia Earhart’s latest journey has landed her a spot in the California Hall of Fame.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, first lady Maria Shriver, inducted Earhart and 10 other individuals into the hall of fame on Wednesday, Dec. 6 in a red carpet ceremony that took place in Sacramento.

Earhart, who moved to California sometime around 1920, obtained the urge to fly after attending a stunt-flying exhibition with her father in Long Beach. A short time later, she took her first flight lessons at Kinner Field near Long Beach. Earhart never looked back.

Members of Earhart’s family were on hand for the ceremony and received a Spirit of California sliver medal plated with gold and adorned with green ribbon. The medal was designed by internationally-acclaimed artist Robert Graham, known for his Quetzalcoatl statue in San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

The California Hall of Fame is the brainchild of Shriver, who called the event “an extraordinary night for California.”

Additional inductees included Clint Eastwood, Cesar Chavez, Sally Ride, Billie Jean King and Ronald Regan, among others.