Amelia Earhart Husband: Meet George P. Putnam

Amelia Mary Earhart, the pioneering American aviation figure, was united in marriage with George P. Putnam, widely known as GP.

Following Putnam’s divorce in 1929, he persistently proposed to Earhart on six occasions before she eventually accepted.

Their union took place on February 7, 1931, at Putnam’s mother’s residence in Noank, Connecticut. Earhart characterized their marriage as a “partnership” with “dual control,” emphasizing equality and mutual understanding.

In a letter hand-delivered to Putnam on their wedding day, Earhart expressed her unconventional views on marriage, stating, “I shall not hold you to any medieval code of faithfulness to me nor shall I consider myself bound to you similarly.” She continued, “I may have to keep some place where I can go to be by myself, now and then, for I cannot guarantee to endure at all times the confinement of even an attractive cage.”

Earhart’s progressive ideas on marriage were evident as she retained her maiden name, rejecting the societal expectations of being addressed as “Mrs. Putnam.” When The New York Times insisted on using the title Mrs. Putnam, she humorously shrugged it off.

In a reciprocal gesture, Putnam adopted the title “Mr. Earhart.” Despite the absence of a traditional honeymoon, with Earhart being engaged in a promotional tour, the couple embraced their unconventional relationship.

Although Earhart and Putnam did not have children together, Putnam had two sons from his previous marriage to Dorothy Binney. The marriage between Earhart and Putnam was characterized by mutual respect and shared responsibilities.

Tragically, Earhart vanished during her second attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1937. In the wake of her disappearance, Putnam continued to contribute to preserving her legacy.

He published two books based on Earhart’s writings about flying: “The Fun of It” (1932), a memoir and essay on women in aviation, and “Last Flight” (1937), a compilation of letters and memoranda compiled by Putnam after her disappearance.

George P. Putnam’s life took a somber turn in late 1949 when he fell ill at his home in Stove Pipe Wells, California, suffering from kidney failure. He passed away on January 4, 1950, at the age of 62, in Trona, California.

Putnam’s remains were cremated, and his ashes were interred in the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles, marking the end of a remarkable life intertwined with the iconic Amelia Earhart.