Durham Museum Presents “Amelia Earhart, First Lady of the Air” to 1,200 Area Students

Amelia Earhart is best known as the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across
the Atlantic Ocean. She was the most famous woman of her time, and a daring pilot whose aviation
firsts made her a media idol and a symbol of what women could accomplish in a man’s world. In honor
of Women’s History Month and the 80th anniversary of Earhart’s ill-fated final flight across the Pacific
Ocean, The Durham Museum will host scholar/performer Ann Birney as “Amelia Earhart, First Lady of
the Air” March 14-16. Dr. Ann Birney is an independent scholar of American Studies and a member of
Ride into History, a historical performance troupe that has toured throughout the U.S. Her Chautauquastyle
performances of Amelia Earhart are based on 20 years of extensive research and study. She holds
a doctorate in American Studies from the University of Kansas and, like Earhart, is a native Kansan. In
March of 2000, she became the first person to do a historical performance for the Smithsonian’s
National Air and Space Museum, whose education curator described her performance as “what living
history should be—accurate, natural, evocative, and accessible.”
“First Lady of the Air” will be presented to more than 1,200 area students as part of The Durham
Museum’s Scholars in Residence Program. A public lecture is also planned for the evening of March 14
at the museum. The Durham Scholars in Residence initiative is an educational outreach program
developed to promote academic enrichment in area schools and community organizations for all age
levels. The Durham Scholars in Residence program provides support to curriculum as well as current
topics of local and national interest. The Scholars in Residence Education Series is sponsored by the
Lincoln Financial Foundation, Sunny Durham Family Foundation, Carol Gendler and the A. Cydog
Charitable Trust.
Birney will take the audience back to 1937, just before Earhart’s disappearance over the Pacific Ocean.
In this presentation, set on the eve of her attempt to fly around the globe, Earhart speaks candidly
about her Kansas childhood, her love of flying and her ambivalence toward fame.
The media is invited to attend any or all of the performances. Please call Jessica Brummer, Director of
Marketing at Public Relations at The Durham Museum if you plan to attend so schedules can be
coordinated with the school principals.

Tuesday, March 14
9:00AM – St. Peter Paul School (Omaha Catholic Schools, 200 students, 1st-8th Grade)
Principal: Cory Sepich
3619 X Street
Omaha, NE 68107

1:30PM – Good Shepherd (Private School, 100 students, K-8th Grade)
Principal: Ben Leibl
5071 Center Street
Omaha, NE 68106

6:30PM – The Durham Museum (Public Lecture, Up to 266 People)
801 S. 10th Street
Omaha, NE 68108
Reservations are required and regular museum admission applies; free for members. Please call
402-444-5071 or email reservations@DurhamMuseum.org to reserve your spot.

Wednesday, March 15th
9:00AM – St. Cecilia’s School (Omaha Catholic Schools, 50 students, 7th-8th Grade)
Principal: Becky Peterson
3869 Webster Street
Omaha, NE 68131

1:30PM – Holy Cross School (Private School, 240 students, K-5th Grade)
Principal: Chris Nelson
1502 S. 48th Street
Omaha, NE 68106

Thursday, March 16th
9:45AM – Abbott Elementary School (Millard Public Schools, 225 students, 3rd-5th Grade)
Principal: Eric Chaussee
1313 N. 156th Street
Omaha, NE 68118

2:00PM – Elkhorn Middle School (Elkhorn Public Schools, 430 students, 6th-8th Grade)
Principal: Deb Garrison
3200 North 207th Street
Elkhorn, NE 68022