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Amelia Earhart is born
This timeline starts on 24 July 1897 when Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas, USA to Samuel "Edwin" Stanton Earhart and Amelia "Amy" Otis Earhart. She was called by the family pet name "Meeley". Her sister was born two years later named Grace Muriel Earhart (1899 – 1998), nicknamed "Pidge". Amelia had an coeducation: The Earhart sisters were educated at home by their mother and a governess until Amelia was 12 years old when she attended the Hyde Park High School in Chicago, Illinoisonve -
She Graduates from Hyde Park High School
Amelia entered college in October 1916, attending the Ogontz School near Philadelphia, while her sister Muriel went to St. Margaret’s College in Toronto, Canada. Amelia had originally intended to go to Bryn Mawr, then Vassar, but she filed too late to attend Vassar that year. While at the Ogontz School, Amelia played hockey, studied French and German, and continued to excel in her classes, though she alienated some of her fellow students when she spoke out strongly against the secret sororities -
She Volunteers
She visited her sister in Toronto where she receives training from the Red Cross and volunteers as a nurse during WW1 at the Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital in Toronto, Canada. -
The Spanish Flu
In November The Spanish flu pandemic reached Toronto and during her nursing duties Amelia contracted the flu which resulted in a serious condition called Chronic sinusitis and she suffered from headaches all of her life -
Amelia Returns to Northampton, Massachusetts
Amelia Earhart returns to Northampton, Massachusetts for convalescence and enrolls the pre-med program of Columbia University, New York -
First Flight
In December Leaves Columbia University and returns to New York. Experiences her first flight with Frank Hawks and became determined to take flying lessons and learn to fly -
Flying lessons are complete
In January Completes her flying lessons with Neta Snook a pioneer female aviator who used a "Canuck" for training. Amelia Earhart then purchases her first aircraft - the Kinner Airster which she nicknamed "The Canary." -
Sets World Record!
Amelia Earhart sets a world record for women's flying with an altitude record of 14,000 feet -
16th woman to get pilots license's
Earhart became the 16th woman to be issued a pilot's license by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) -
Traveling to North America and Canada
Amelia Earhart was hospitalized for another sinus operation and due to financial problems sells the Kinner Airster and buys an automobile travelling across North America and Canada -
Works as teacher
Works as a teacher, then as a social worker in Boston, Massachusetts -
Becoming a member
Amelia Earhart becomes a member of the American Aeronautical Society's Boston chapter and acted as a sales representative for Kinner airplanes. She also wrote for local newspapers and her fame spread as a female flyers -
Flying Solo
By this time Amelia Earhart she had accumulated nearly 500 hours of solo flying. She contacts Ruth Nichols about forming an organization for female flyers -
She's Engaged
In August Publicist Capt. Hilton H. Railey approaches Amelia Earhart to accompany pilot Wilmer Stultz and co-pilot/mechanic Louis Gordon on a flight across the Atlantic. She is recognized as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger and the teams are given a ticker-tape parade in New York followed by a reception at the White House with President Calvin Coolidge. Amelia then purchases the Avro Avian Airplane. She became engaged to Samuel Chapman but this was broken in Nov. -
Women's Air Derby
Her fame and celebrity leads to profitable promotions. She buys a single engine Lockheed Vega aircraft and is placed third in the Women's Air Derby from Santa Monica to Cleveland -
Breaking Record
Amelia Earhart sets the women's world flying speed record of 181.18 mph
In October she obtains her air transport license -
Elected
She's elected president of the Ninety-Nines (Women's Pilot Association) advancing the cause of women in aviation
In February she Marries George Putnam, who becomes her manager.
In June she Flew coast to coast in an auto gyro -
Flying Solo
Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, taking 15 hours 18 minutes, flying a Lockheed Vega 5B. In August she then became the first woman to fly non-stop across USA. She flew coast to coast, Los Angeles to Newark, in 19 hours 5 minutes in a Lockheed Vega 5B and broke the previous speed record. She is awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, presented by President Hoover and also wins the Harmon Tro -
Completes National Air Race
Competes in the National Air Races in Los Angeles, California and breaks her own North American transcontinental record with a flying time of 17 hours, 7 minutes, 30 seconds -
Wins Trophy
Wins the Harmon Trophy for the third time -
First Women Flying Solo
First woman to fly solo across the pacific taking 18 hours in a Lockheed Vega. She is named America's Outstanding Airwoman by Harmon Trophy committee -
Round World Trip
Purdue University provide the money for a Lockheed twin-engine airplane in which Amelia Earhart plans to make a round-the-world flight -
Begin World Trip
Begins her round-the-world flight in Oakland, California setting a record for east-west
(Oakland to Hawaii) travel in 15 hours and 47 minutes but the plane is damaged and needs repairs -
Second Attempt
Starts a second round-the-world attempt from Miami, Florida. Fred Noonan was her only crew member for the second flight. She leaves New Guinea and disappears near Howland Island. Their last known position report was near the Nukumanu Islands her last radio message was:
"We must be on you, but cannot see you, but gas is running low.
Have been unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1,000 feet." -
She's Dead
The official search efforts ended
