Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart, 1937

Amelia Mary Earhart (born July 24, 1897) was an American aviator whose record-setting career would make her the most famous female pilot in history. During an attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1937, she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean and was never seen again.

In December 1920, pilot Frank Hawks gave Earhart a plane ride that would prompt her to earn her own pilot’s license. She went on to set a series of aviation records, starting in 1922 when she became the first woman to fly solo above 14,000 feet.

In 1929 she helped form the Ninety-Nines, an international organization to advance female pilots that still exists today.

Three years later she made news headlines when she flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first woman and second person to do so. The feat earned her the Distinguished Flying Cross. She was also the first woman to fly solo across the U.S. and the first aviator to fly solo from Hawaii to the mainland, both in 1935.

In 1937, Amelia Earhart set her sights on another first: flying around the globe. On July 2, with only 7,000 miles left on their 29,000-mile journey, she and navigator Fred Noonan set off from Lae, New Guinea, in her twin-engine Lockheed 10E Electra and disappeared somewhere over the Pacific. The plane and its occupants were never found, and the pair was declared lost at sea on July 19, 1937.

Amelia Earhart’s incredible career and unsolved disappearance continue to fascinate to this day.

Learn more about Amelia Earhart through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about Amelia Earhart

The Friendship (plane Earhart was passenger in for first trip across the Atlantic) Mon, Jun 4, 1928 – Page 14 · The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart, ca. 1928 Tue, Jun 5, 1928 – Page 6 · The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comPicture of Amelia Earhart and her team of Pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Lou Gordon Sat, Jun 9, 1928 – Page 6 · Shamokin News-Dispatch (Shamokin, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comNews stories of Amelia Earhart’s successful flight to Britain Mon, Jun 18, 1928 – Page 1 · Belvidere Daily Republican (Belvidere, Illinois) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart is first woman to cross the Atlantic by plane Mon, Jun 18, 1928 – Page 1 · El Paso Evening Post (El Paso, Texas) · Newspapers.comExcerpt concerning Amelia Earhart’s first flight over the Atlantic Ocean in 1928 Mon, Jun 18, 1928 – 1 · Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) · Newspapers.comCelebration of British when Amelia Earhart landed her transatlantic flight in Southhampton Tue, Jun 19, 1928 – 1 · The Dispatch (Moline, Illinois) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart marries G.P. Putnam Sat, Feb 7, 1931 – Page 1 · Santa Cruz Evening News (Santa Cruz, California) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart is first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Sat, May 21, 1932 – Page 1 · The Evening Independent (Massillon, Ohio) · Newspapers.comInterview with Amelia Earhart about women in aviation Fri, Aug 12, 1932 – 16 · Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart Crosses U.S. in Non-Stop Flight Thu, Aug 25, 1932 – Page 1 · The Evening Independent (Massillon, Ohio) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart pictured after receiving the key to Burlington, Vermont, in 1934 Tue, May 22, 1934 – Page 10 · The Burlington Free Press (Burlington, Vermont) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart flies from Hawaii to California Sun, Jan 13, 1935 – Page 1 · The Post-Register (Idaho Falls, Idaho) · Newspapers.comLog of Amelia Earhart’s solo flight from Hawaii to California in 1935 Sun, Jan 13, 1935 – Page 4 · The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart flies solo from LA to Mexico Sun, Apr 21, 1935 – Page 1 · Harrisburg Sunday Courier (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart answers questions about her life in aviation Tue, Nov 5, 1935 – 5 · The Times (Munster, Indiana) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart begins her around-the-world flight Tue, Jun 1, 1937 – Page 1 · The Plain Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart lands in Lae, New Guinea Tue, Jun 29, 1937 – Page 1 · The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois) · Newspapers.comMap of the final legs of Amelia Earhart's around-the-world flight Tue, Jun 29, 1937 – Page 6 · The Decatur Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois) · Newspapers.comProblems contacting Amelia Earhart by radio on final flight Fri, Jul 2, 1937 – Page 1 · Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, Texas) · Newspapers.comNewspaper front-page headlines report on Amelia Earhart's disappearance in 1937 03 Jul 1937, Sat The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart disappears Sat, Jul 3, 1937 – Page 1 · The Wilkes-Barre Record (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart Reported Missing in Pacific Sat, Jul 3, 1937 – Page 1 · The Bristol Daily Courier (Bristol, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comTechnical adviser to Amelia Earhart believes Earhart and Noonan are safe after lost communication Sat, Jul 3, 1937 – 4 · Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Honolulu, Hawaii) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart reported that her fuel was low and she hadn't sighted Howland Island Sat, Jul 3, 1937 – Page 1 · Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) · Newspapers.comPlane Amelia Earhart flew on her final flight Sat, Jul 3, 1937 – Page 1 · The Evening Times (Sayre, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comImage of Amelia Earhart in her plane's rubber emergency boat Sun, Jul 4, 1937 – 2 · Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Newspapers.comEfforts to find Amelia Earhart after her disappearance three days earlier Mon, Jul 5, 1937 – Page 1 · Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona) · Newspapers.comRadio Call Raises Hope that Amelia Earhart is Alive and Safe on Land Mon, Jul 5, 1937 – Page 1 · The Winnipeg Tribune (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart and Fred Noonan Tue, Jul 6, 1937 – Page 18 · The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune (Chillicothe, Missouri) · Newspapers.comAmelia Earhart and Fred Noonan are pronounced dead when the search comes to a end Mon, Jul 19, 1937 – 2 · Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City, Utah) · Newspapers.com