George P. Putnam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George P. Putnam
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Putnam with Amelia Earhart, c. 1935
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| Born |
George Palmer Putnam
September 7, 1887 Rye, New York, U.S.
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| Died | January 4, 1950 (aged 62) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard University University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Dorothy Binney
(m. 1911; div. 1929)Jean-Marie Cosigny James
(m. 1939; div. 1945)Margaret Havilland
(m. 1945; |
| Children | 2 sons (with Dorothy Binney Putnam) |
| Parent(s) | John Bishop Putnam Francis Faulkner |
George Palmer Putnam (born September 7, 1887, died January 4, 1950) was an American publisher, writer, and explorer. He was famous for being married to the pioneering pilot Amelia Earhart. He was also known as one of the best promoters in the United States during the 1930s.
Early Life and Family
George Palmer Putnam was born in Rye, New York. His father was John Bishop Putnam. His grandfather, also named George Palmer Putnam, started a famous publishing company called G. P. Putnam's Sons. George P. Putnam went to college at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley.
In 1911, Putnam married Dorothy Binney. She was the daughter of Edwin Binney. He was a co-owner of Binney & Smith Inc., the company that makes Crayola crayons. George and Dorothy had two sons, David Binney Putnam and George Palmer Putnam, Jr.
For a time, the family lived in Bend, Oregon. There, Putnam was the publisher and editor of the local newspaper, the Bend Bulletin. He was also the mayor of Bend from 1912 to 1913. In 1915, Putnam left Bend to work for Oregon Governor James Withycombe.
A few years later, George and Dorothy moved to the East Coast. Putnam joined his family's publishing business in New York City.
Adventures and Expeditions
During World War I, George Putnam served in the United States Army field artillery. After the war, he continued his adventurous spirit.
In 1926, he led an expedition to the Arctic. This trip, sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History, explored the west coast of Greenland. The next year, he led another trip for the American Geographical Society. On this expedition to Baffin Island, they collected wildlife specimens.
Publishing Success and New Beginnings
In July 1927, Putnam published a huge bestseller. It was "We", the story of Charles Lindbergh's life. Lindbergh had just made the first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The book sold over 650,000 copies in less than a year. It was one of the most successful non-fiction books ever.
In 1930, the Putnam family's publishing company merged with another firm. George P. Putnam then left his position. He joined Brewer & Warren, another New York publisher, as vice president.
Meeting Amelia Earhart
A very important event happened in Putnam's life in 1928. Because of his success with Lindbergh, he was contacted by Amy Phipps Guest. She was a wealthy American living in London. She wanted to sponsor the first flight by a woman across the Atlantic Ocean.
Guest asked Putnam to find the right person for this flight. He chose Amelia Earhart, who was not well-known at the time. They soon found they had many interests in common, like hiking, swimming, and tennis.
After Earhart completed her flight, Putnam offered to help her write a book about it. He used the same successful plan he had used for Lindbergh's book. Earhart's book was called 20 Hrs., 40 Min. (1928).
To make writing easier, Putnam invited Earhart to live in his home. George and his first wife, Dorothy, divorced in 1929. Putnam then began to promote Earhart's career. He arranged lecture tours and deals for her to endorse products.
Putnam and Earhart officially became a couple after his divorce. They married in 1931. Earhart had modern ideas about marriage. She believed both partners should have equal responsibilities. She also famously kept her own last name. Putnam soon learned that people would call him "Mr. Earhart."
The newlyweds did not have a honeymoon. Earhart was busy on a nine-day tour promoting autogyros and Beech-Nut chewing gum. Amelia and George did not have children together. However, George had two sons from his first marriage: David Binney Putnam and George Palmer Putnam, Jr. Earhart was especially fond of David. He often visited his father at their home in Rye, New York.
After Earhart's successful solo flight across the Atlantic in 1932, Putnam again organized her public appearances. In 1935, Earhart joined Purdue University as a visiting faculty member. She advised women on careers and worked as a technical advisor.
Amelia Earhart's Disappearance
Amelia Earhart disappeared in 1937. She was on her second attempt to fly around the world. Besides her first book, Putnam published two more books Earhart wrote about flying. These were The Fun of It (1932) and Last Flight (1937). Last Flight was put together by Putnam after she disappeared.
In 1939, Putnam also published her biography, Soaring Wings: A Biography of Amelia Earhart. A fire at Putnam's home in Rye destroyed many of Earhart's personal items. However, Putnam later donated some of her belongings, like photos and letters, to Purdue University.
George Putnam had Amelia Earhart declared legally dead on January 5, 1939. He remarried on May 21 of that year to Jean-Marie Cosigny James.
Later Years and Other Works
In 1938, Putnam started a new publishing company in California. It was called George Palmer Putnam Inc. When America entered World War II in 1941, Putnam returned to active service. He joined an intelligence unit as a captain and became a major by 1942.
In 1945, he and Jean-Marie divorced. Soon after, he married again to Margaret Havilland. They ran the Stove Pipe Wells resort in Death Valley, California.
George Putnam wrote several books, including:
- Death Valley and Its Country (1946)
- Death Valley Handbook (1947)
- Hickory Shirt (1948)
- Hot Oil (1935)
- In the Oregon Country (1915)
- Smiting the Rock (1918)
- Soaring Wings: A Biography of Amelia Earhart (1939)
- Wide Margins (1942 autobiography)
Death
In late 1949, Putnam became ill at his home in Stovepipe Wells, California in Death Valley. He was suffering from kidney failure. He died in Trona, California in early 1950, at age 62. His body was cremated. His ashes were buried in the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.
Honors
Amelia Earhart, Putnam's second wife, was the first president of The Ninety-Nines. This group of female pilots was formed in 1929 to support aviation. Putnam suggested an award to honor anyone who supports a member or the group itself. This award, called the "George Palmer Putnam 49½ Award," recognizes great support for The Ninety-Nines.
In 1927, the Boy Scouts of America made Putnam an "Honorary Scout." This new award was for "American citizens whose achievements in outdoor activity, exploration and worthwhile adventure are of such an exceptional character as to capture the imagination of boys..."
Because of his connection to Amelia Earhart, Putnam has been featured in many movies and documentaries. These include:
- Amelia Earhart (1976), where John Forsythe played Putnam.
- Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight (1994), with Bruce Dern as Putnam.
- The documentary Amelia Earhart: The Price of Courage (1993) also showed the Putnam-Earhart marriage.
- Richard Gere played Putnam in the 2009 movie, Amelia.
