Earhart memorabilia appeal

THIS year on May 21, will be the 80th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s solo Atlantic flight, the day when the first woman to fly across the Atlantic in 1932 landed in our own back yard dropping in for tea at Gallagher’s cottage at Ballyarnett along the way.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Feb 2012, 15:14 BST

Derry City Council has designated May 21, 2012 as the first ever Amelia Earhart Day.

To mark this historic occasion Greater Shantallow Community Arts is looking for long lost treasure in the attic. Do you have any old photos or stories relating to Amelia Earhart’s famous visit to Londonderry? Are there any historical gems languishing in the back of a drawer or do or your family have any witness stories from that historic day, May 21, 1932? If you do, the Earhart festival would love to hear from you.

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The community arts group are looking for photos, stories, eye witness accounts and memorabilia of that day to mount an exhibition that will tell the story of Earhart’s brief, 24-hour stay in Londonderry. The full tale of her day here has never been fully told not only are artefacts being sought, but local historians who would like to take on the task of putting it all together.

New photos have already come to light featuring never before seen images of America’s most famous lady aviator at Ballyarnett. Given the global interest in Earhart there is little doubt that these images should attract world attention to the images and the city. These new photos will form the central part of a photographic exhibition which, it is hoped, will be on public display in May as part of the Earhart Festival.

This year the Earhart Festival moves to a new date, May 19 to 21. Greater Shantallow Community Arts are planning a number of events to feature Earhart throughout the three days.

As well as the Earhart photographic exhibition and the story of the lady aviator’s twenty-four hour stay in Londonderry, there will be the launch of an Earhart graphic novel, and the inaugural Earhart lecture at the Great Hall, Magee. The Earhart Lecture will be delivered each year by a woman of achievement and will seek to celebrate the spirit of Earhart and women from across the world. Earhart Day - on May 21 - will also see hundreds of schoolchildren at Waterloo Place to receive Earhart medals of merit in recognition of academic achievement or community service.

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So, if you have any unearthed historical gems GSCA would love to hear from you. Contact; Joe Campbell or Olly Green at Greater Shantallow Community Arts, Email: [email protected]; phone, 71357443 or call to the office at 65 Galliagh Park.

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