University hopes Earhart biopic will boost interest in collection

Purdue’s Earhart collection boasts among its treasures, numerous papers, artifacts, memorabilia and photos, with over 3,500 scans of photos, documents and maps in its online library alone. This corner of cyberspace dedicated to the memory of Earhart, the first woman to cross the Atlantic, doesn’t shy away from her famous disappearance during a 1937 flight over the central Pacific Ocean and even offers copies of the maps she used on this ill-fated flight along with photos she took during it and mailed back to her husband, George P. Putnam (played in the film by Richard Gere). Added to this are further professional accolades, such as her many impressive medals and personal items like her marriage license and pre-nuptial agreement.

During her life, Earhart enjoyed a close connection with the university, which is now celebrated for its influence in America’s aviation past. She lectured there as a “Counselor on Careers for Women” from 1935 until her death and the institution also coughed up the money to fund her ill-fated “Flying Laboratory” project.

Amelia, which is to open in the UK on Friday 13th November, is already on general release in the States, where it has met with lukewarm reviews, yet Purdue remains optimistic. An awards push (Swank is a two-time Oscar winner) could change all that…

[via Associated Press]