Amelia's Astronaut Connection
The grandson of Amelia Earhart's photographer will carry her scarf higher than she ever did—into orbit.
- By Jill Michaels
- AirSpaceMag.com, October 23, 2009
Earhart and navigator, Harry Manning, photographed by Albert L. Bresnik.
© Bresnik Studio
When space shuttle Atlantis launches next month on a mission to the International Space Station, a multicolored scarf worn by Amelia Earhart will be on board.
The neckpiece has played a poignant cameo role in the family history of first-time astronaut Randy Bresnik. His grandfather, Albert Louis Bresnik, was the personal photographer for Earhart from 1932 until July 2, 1937—the date of her disappearance near Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean.
The Hollywood publicity photographer met Earhart early in his nearly 40-year career. Her husband, publisher George P. Putnam, hired Albert away from CBS to serve as her personal photographer. “She liked him because it was not about him as a photographer,” says Randy Bresnik. “He was very young at the time, so she looked upon him as a little brother.”
During their five-year professional relationship, Albert took numerous images of Earhart, many uncredited (see the gallery above for a sample). “If you see a photo of Amelia Earhart wearing her lucky scarf, that photo was taken by my grandfather,” says Randy. Several months prior to her disappearance, Albert began shooting photos for World Flight, a book that Earhart wanted to write about her planned circumnavigation of the equator. Earhart even asked Albert to accompany her and her navigator inside her Purdue-funded Lockheed Electra 10E to photo-document the historic journey. But including another person, photo equipment and food would have added too much weight. “Fortunately for me,” Randy says, “he didn’t go with her on what became her final flight.”
Earhart and Fred Noonan completed 22,000 miles of their flight before they went missing. Albert packed away all his Earhart negatives and photographs to ease the painful memories. Although his farewell images of her were published in her planned book, renamed Last Flight, the photos themselves lay hidden inside his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., until the 50th anniversary of her disappearance in 1987. “He found all these pictures,” says Randy, “including early ones of Lucille Ball, before she became a major star. But his favorite photos were those of one shy female pilot who befriended him.” Albert L. Bresnik died in 1993, but his negatives are still owned by the family.
The fashion-conscious Earhart always wore her lucky scarf and bracelet on long-distance flights. For some reason, though, the aviatrix left the accessories with her mother, Amy, before embarking on that ill-fated flight. According to Randy, his wife Rebecca came up with the idea to fly Earhart’s scarf on his first shuttle flight. Earlier this year, the astronaut picked up the memento from the Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots in Oklahoma City, Okla., where it has been on display alongside Earhart’s pilot license ever since her mother donated it to the museum. “Please treat this with the respect it deserves,” Randy told NASA employees as he delivered the scarf for stowage on the shuttle.
A photographer himself, the 42-year-old astronaut and former F/A-18 test pilot is looking forward to “taking the time to enjoy the view” during his own around-the-world flight, targeted for launch on November 16. “Wherever Amelia’s final resting place is right now, we will be flying only 220 miles from her as we orbit the Earth,” he says. “It shows what a small world it is.”
Jill Michaels is a freelancer and screenwriter in Seabrook, Texas.
Comments (16)
Randy,
We're all rooting for you here on the ground. I'm glad you're finally getting your chance at space. The YAK is gone, but you're welcome to come fly with us anytime you get the chance. Plenty more toys in the toybox.
Stay safe!
Semper fi,
Art "KAOS" Nalls
LtCol, USMC (ret)
Posted by Art Nalls on October 23,2009 | 12:48 PM
I currently live in, and have been since 1985.in the home
Amelia Earhart lived in during the 1930's. The home is located at 10515 Valley Spring Lane North Hollywood Ca.
I've heard that her photographer, Albert Bresnil took pictures of her in our house and courtyard.
I am trying to get in contact with any one who night know where I could aquire copies of such photographs.
Can you help me ? EDITORS' REPLY: Readers?
Posted by Harold Shafer on October 23,2009 | 07:59 PM
Several years ago I purchased an original photograph of Amelia Earhart with Harry Manning similar to your example - Amelia with Harry. The photograph is signed by Harry as follows:
"To Barney
From Harry Manning
With Best Wishes"
I wonder who Barney was in Harry's life? (Obviously, a close friend of Harry).
Do you have any leads or comment?
Now I know, at least, who took the photograph. (It's a beauty - a close up - with Amelia and her lucky scarf with Harry on top of her airplane).
Posted by David Gosling on October 23,2009 | 10:35 PM
With the new motion picture "Amelia" coming out today all over the country, writers are taking advantage of the opportunity to update us on old and newly discovered facts about this much loved aviation icon. The latest real news is the promising investigation by a well qualified accident investigator named Gillette at Nikumaroro Island, 400 miles southeast of Howland Island. Amelia Earhart will always remain a legitimate heroine. She deliberately sought fame as a means of proving that a woman could excel in aviation as well as a man. She was as fiercely independent in her private life as she was in her well publicized life in aviation. Yet she continues to capture the love of men and women everywhere.
Posted by Chatham H Forbes Sr on October 23,2009 | 10:57 PM
What a great article! Well done!! I enjoyed reading all
about the famous scarf especially at this time with the
new "Amelia" movie just coming out.
Posted by Charlotte Whatcott on October 24,2009 | 02:05 PM
I meant Albert the summer of 1987 at the Santa Monica Airport displaying his pictures of Amelia for the first time in 50 years. What a wonderful legacy he leaves with his grandson. Albert & Gabrielle invited me into their lives and it wast great to be able to spend time with them together. Look forward to meeting with you sometime.
Posted by Richard Campbell on October 28,2009 | 02:40 PM
Randy, we are all so proud of you and love you so very much
It will be thrilling to see you take your first flight into space with your Dad and many members of the Bresnik family. Only wished Albert could be with us. I know how proud he was of you.
Sincerely
Gabrielle Bresnik
Albert Bresnik's widow
Posted by Gabrielle Bresnik on October 29,2009 | 12:38 PM
This is so interesting. I am the niece of Gabrielle who was the wife of Albert Bresnik. My uncle was married to Gabrielle before he passed away and she then married Albert. I was lucky enough to have known Albert before he passed. We have one of his pictures of Amelia with her airplane that Albert generously gave us as a gift. I didn't know his grandson was an astronaut. We are proud to be associated with this family and will be sure to watch the news on the NASA flight in November. I can I think help Harold Shafer with his quest.
Posted by Karen Nickell on October 31,2009 | 02:54 PM
Randy,
Saw you on the scoreboard last Saturday--have a safe trip!
Charles Kersey,
Regt. Band Co.
Citadel '84
Posted by Charles Kersey on November 9,2009 | 09:04 PM
Karen,
Read your post indicating you may be able to help in my quest for photos of our home where Amelia once lived that were taken by Albert Bresnik. Please contact me at halbev@pacbell.net
Thank you!!
Posted by Harold Shafer on November 18,2009 | 05:25 PM
Karen, Read your post re possibly being able to help with our search for photos. Please contact us at:halbev@pacbell.net
Thanks!
Posted by Harold Shafer on November 19,2009 | 01:36 AM
As I listened to the news the other day, I heard it mentioned that one of Amelia's scarves was on board the space shuttle. For a moment, I thought, "Why does she seem a bit more familiar to me than any other historical name?" Then I was talking to my sister Lee Anne back in New York yesterday and she said, "Do you know I just realized that we have a connection to one of the astronauts up in the space shuttle?" Lee Anne became a good friend of Albert's Bresnik's wife Gabrielle, while living in Burbank in the late 80's. I heard of Albert's time as Ms. Earhart's photographer and I met Gabrielle and Albert, when I lived in Burbank with my sister and her husband. Lee Anne has always spoken so fondly of Gabrielle (I see she even posted here last month, hello Gabrielle!). We thought it was quite an honor to have had such a close connection to one of our astronauts, whose grandfather was also a former photographer for Amelia Earhart! All the best to Randy Bresnik and his family!! Erin Fagan-D'Acunto- Tampa, FL/Syracuse, NY
Posted by Erin Fagan-D'Acunto on November 21,2009 | 12:08 AM
How absolutely fitting that Amelia's scarf should fly around the world!! Amelia's quest to open doors for girls and women just took flight again!
Amelia spent a year in Minnesota during here junior year in high school. On our website, www.daughtersofthegame.com. we are posting in "Overtime," photos of Amelia, some listed as unidentified photographer. If they can be identified, please advise so history can be kept accurate.
Minnesota is so proud that she was one of us for awhile.
Posted by Dorothy E. McIntyre on November 28,2009 | 11:08 AM
Need some help identifing these pictures.
Earlier this month my grandmother who was 70yrs old passed away due to diabetes complications. She was a pilot for a period of time and from what I can tell really admired Amelia Earhart. One of the items that we found while sorting through her things were pictures of Amelia. At first my mother and aunt passed them off to me saying they were merely postcards. I was excited to have them simply because they belonged to my grandmother. When I brought all four of them home I started taking them out of the frames to put them all in a poster frame instead. I found that each one is numbered wrapped in plastic with a hand written inscription on each picture. The inscription reads,"You are in possesion of a valuable historic photograph of Amelia Earhart taken by myself as her personal photographer. It is a numbered original made by myself as I made them for her 50 years ago in 1937. sighned Albert L. Bresnik Filmlands photographer bresnik." Photograph #18 says it is a picture of Harry Mening with Amelia. #6 is Amelia and Cynil Remlin.#23 is Ameila and Ruth last name is hard to read and I think Laurie Ihaden. The last picture is of her getting into an airplane. I can't make out the numbers on the plane she is getting into but the plane in the back ground it numbered NC6488. There was also a First day of issue Amelia Earhart Envelope with her stamp on it. says released july 24 1963 9am on it.
I am really excited to have this but am unsure if it is real. Am I holding onto a real piece of history here?
If you can help me answer this question please email me.
Thank you.
tcastill9430@yahoo.com EDITORS' REPLY: We are unable to provide authentication or valuation services, I'm afraid. Maybe readers can point you in some directions, such as dealers who specialize in early aviation photography.
Posted by Tiffanie on January 23,2010 | 07:43 PM
I am in possession of a photo of Amelia Earhart, Handwritten on it is Amelia Earhart 1937 by Albert L. Bresnik. Then in original ink : To Wayne Allred!
In appreciation for your interest in aviation. May your spirits always fly high. Your friend, Albert L. Bresnik. Then on the back, in a pocket a note from Bresnik: You are in possession of a vaulabel historic photograph of Amelia Earhart taken by and made by myself as her personal photographer over 50 years ago in 1932 and 1937. In honor of her love for her colored scarfs they are mounted on colored stock. Please enjoy them. Albert L. Bresnik, # 15. Do you want it for your collection? EDITORS' REPLY: For information on donating to the National Air and Space Museum, go to:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/arch/info/faq/faqacquisitions.cfm
Posted by Sylvia Szabo on August 30,2011 | 12:09 AM
My mother had some photos of Amelia Earhart, packing her suitecase, with her map case next to her on the floor. These were photos of her packing for what turned out to be her last flight. They were taken in her home. They were in storage for forty years. They can be viewed, at Clars Auction Gallery, Oakland, CA. That is their offical web site. I do not know if they were taken in your home, or her home in the Bay Area.
Diane
Posted by Diane Brown on September 4,2011 | 06:38 PM