Amelia Earhart is one of the many famous people to have visited Whitewater’s campus. The Royal Purple published on October 23, 1933, advertised Earhart’s upcoming lecture on campus stating “there is probably not a man, woman, or child in America who has not heard this famous name.”[1] At the time, Amelia Earhart was known for being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, setting speed records for women, and writing two books about her own experiences as an aviator.[2] Today, many of us know her for her attempt to fly around the globe. It was during this attempt that her plane was lost and Amelia Earhart’s remains have not been found.
Amelia Earhart gave her lecture to the students of the Wisconsin Normal School-Whitewater, now UW-Whitewater, on October 25th. Amelia Earhart was the first of a five-part lecture series for the 1933-1934 school year. To attend all five lectures, only cost $1.25 or $0.25 per lecture. Lectures following Earhart’s focused on music and theater. Earhart was chosen to speak to make the course “quite largely dramatic.”[3] Earhart’s lecture was very popular among the students and faculty at Whitewater. The auditorium was completely filled for the lecture. Audience members commented on how Earhart conducted her lecture in an informal way that put the audience at ease.[4] She also showed several pictures of her flights. When asked what she considered the greatest factor in her success, Earhart said that sixty percent of her success was due to preparation.[5] After her lecture, the Whitewater Register reported that “it is too much to expect that any of them (lecturers) will make the hit scored here by the modest Amelia.”[6]
[1] “Amelia Earhart to Speak At First Lecture Course.” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) Oct. 23, 1933.
[2] “Amelia Earheart to Speak At First Lecture Course.” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) Oct. 23, 1933.
[3] “Bargains in Entertainment!,” Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) Oct. 12, 1933.
[4] “Miss Earhart Gives Fine Lecture,” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) Oct. 30, 1933.
[5] “Miss Earhart Gives Fine Lecture,” Royal Purple (Whitewater, WI.) Oct. 30, 1933.
[6] Whitewater Register (Whitewater, WI) Nov. 2, 1933.