America’s ‘Queen of the Air’
Amelia Earhart, a career counselor and advisor in Purdue’s Department of Aeronautics from 1935-37, was one of the most influential pioneers in American aviation. In 1932, she achieved the remarkable precedent of becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, prompting her to be dubbed “Queen of the Air.” Earhart also found success as a bestselling author and a highly-sought-after product endorser. While at Purdue, she began planning the round-the-world flight that led to her legendary disappearance in 1937. Today, Purdue has one of the most extensive collections of Earhart’s papers, writings and artifacts, along with a residence hall named in her honor and a larger-than-life statue. Also, in Spring 2024, ground was broken for the Amelia Earhart Terminal at the Purdue University Airport, which recently reopened to commercial flights.