Irene Craigmile Bolam
Encyclopedia
Irene Craigmile Bolam was a New York
banker and resident of Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey
. In 1970, a book which was soon widely discredited set forth an allegation that she was Amelia Earhart
. Bolam denied the claim and took legal action against the publisher, resulting in the book being withdrawn.
refuting the claim. The book's publisher McGraw-Hill
pulled Klaas' book from the market shortly after it was released and court records indicate they made an out of court settlement with her.
Bolam's personal life history has since been thoroughly documented, eliminating any possibility she was Earhart. Evidence presented in the affidavit included her 1937 private pilot's license and marriage certificate. Her personal life was also a matter of public record. Born Irene Madalaine O'Crowley, she married Charles Craigmile and on his death, married Alvin Heller but was subsequently divorced from Heller c. 1939. She remarried to Guy Bolam in 1959. Although Irene Craigmile Bolam was a pilot, her main career revolved around banking and finance in New York. Brother-in-law John Bolam said, "She was influential, knew many well-placed people and was well-traveled." Many mutual friends such as air racer Elinor Smith
also knew both Earhart and Bolam.
On Bolam's death, Gervais sought permission to photograph and fingerprint the body, but permission was denied. In 2006, Criminal forensic expert
Kevin Richlin was hired by National Geographic to study photographs of Earhart and Bolam and cited many measurable facial differences between them, concluding that the two people were not the same.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
banker and resident of Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Monroe Township is a Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 27,999. Monroe was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of South Amboy Township, based on the...
. In 1970, a book which was soon widely discredited set forth an allegation that she was Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
. Bolam denied the claim and took legal action against the publisher, resulting in the book being withdrawn.
Amelia Earhart Lives
In 1965, Major Joseph Gervais had a chance encounter with Bolam, believing she was Earhart. Using Gervais' research, author Joe Klaas documented this assertion in his book Amelia Earhart Lives (1970). Bolam denied being Earhart, filed a $1.5 million lawsuit and submitted a lengthy affidavitAffidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
refuting the claim. The book's publisher McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
pulled Klaas' book from the market shortly after it was released and court records indicate they made an out of court settlement with her.
Bolam's personal life history has since been thoroughly documented, eliminating any possibility she was Earhart. Evidence presented in the affidavit included her 1937 private pilot's license and marriage certificate. Her personal life was also a matter of public record. Born Irene Madalaine O'Crowley, she married Charles Craigmile and on his death, married Alvin Heller but was subsequently divorced from Heller c. 1939. She remarried to Guy Bolam in 1959. Although Irene Craigmile Bolam was a pilot, her main career revolved around banking and finance in New York. Brother-in-law John Bolam said, "She was influential, knew many well-placed people and was well-traveled." Many mutual friends such as air racer Elinor Smith
Elinor Smith
Elinor Smith , was a pioneering American aviatrix, once known as "The Flying Flapper of Freeport". She was the first woman test pilot for both Fairchild and Bellanca...
also knew both Earhart and Bolam.
On Bolam's death, Gervais sought permission to photograph and fingerprint the body, but permission was denied. In 2006, Criminal forensic expert
Forensics
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action...
Kevin Richlin was hired by National Geographic to study photographs of Earhart and Bolam and cited many measurable facial differences between them, concluding that the two people were not the same.
External links
- Earhart comparison to Bolam
- Essay which analyzes and rejects assertions that Bolam was Earhart
- The Bolam theory with lawsuit details
- Where is Amelia Earhart? Three Theories (including the Irene Craigmile Bolam theory)