Amelia Earhart
1923
Amelia Earhart. Where did you go?
We'll never know the answer to one of aviation's great mysteries, the disappearance of Amelia Mary Earhart over the central Pacific on July 2, 1937.
But we can say a bit about her first appearance.
Amelia Earhart's FirstMention in the US press looks to be this brief article from the June 14, 1923 Oakland Tribune.
Women pilots (a chance to use that wonderful word, aviatrix) were still quite a rarity in 1923, so Ms. Earhart's achievement, both for receiving a license and for breaking the altitude record, were certainly worthy of note.
Also of note...this 1929 photo (wish it were clearer!...imaging technology still has a ways to go) of Amelia, Mrs Floyd Bennett, and some other aviation notables.
But who, I wonder, are the Question Mark? Anyone know?
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Our FirstMention research is carried out in many sources, including historical newspaper archives, online family history records, state archives, and old books.
Know of an earlier FirstMention? Let us know at david@firstmention.com