American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum Celebrates Women's History Month

March 10, 2009

Speakers, Feature Films, a Special Exhibit, and Discounts for Visitors

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To recognize Women's History Month and continue its tradition of encouraging women to consider a career in aviation, the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum is presenting a special series of distinguished speakers and showing feature films about women in aviation.

Additionally, the museum will host a special exhibit honoring the contributions of women who have made groundbreaking contributions to American Airlines and will offer discounts on books and videos related to women's history month.

Special Speakers

Former pilot Betty Jo Streff-Reed will speak at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 21 about her remarkable experiences ferrying military aircraft during World War II as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).

Author Ric Gillespie will deliver a fascinating presentation about his book entitled Finding Amelia: the True Story of the Earhart Disappearance at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 24. Books will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow the presentation.

Retired American Airlines pilot Bonnie Tiburzi will speak about her experience of becoming the first woman to fly for a major airline at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 28. She also authored Takeoff! The Story of America's First Woman Pilot for a Major Airline, and a limited number of these books will be available for purchase.

Featured Films

The C.R. Smith Museum is also proud to launch Tripleheader Movie Saturdays. On March 7, 14, 21, and 28, three videos will be shown in the museum's main theater. At 11 a.m., Biography: Amelia Earhart, an A&E Television Network production, will be shown (not rated, 50 minutes).

Then at 12:30 p.m., Women Combat Pilots: the Right Stuff, an A&E Television Network production, will be presented (not rated, 50 minutes).

At 5 p.m., Fly Girls: the WWII Women's Airforce Service Pilots, a Silverlining Productions film for American Experience, will be shown (not rated, 56 minutes).

Women in Aviation Exhibit

The American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum also has a photographic exhibit that honors the contributions of women who have worked for American Airlines. Included are photos of women such as Carlene Roberts, the first woman to serve as vice president of a major airline; Bonnie Tiburzi, the first woman hired as a pilot by a major airline; Beverly Bass, the first female pilot to be promoted to captain by a major airline; and Millie Alford, the first director of the American Airlines Stewardess College who received the company's highest honor, the American Airlines Distinguished Service Award.

Discounts

Books and videos related to women's history will be on sale at a 15 percent discount in the C.R. Smith Museum Gift Shop during March. Purchasing these materials is a great way to learn more about women's historic contributions to the field of aviation.

The presentations by distinguished speakers, videos presented during Tripleheader Movie Saturdays, and the photographic exhibit are included at no additional cost with the price of admission. Museum members and employees of AMR Corporation are admitted to the museum for free. Non-member and non-employee admission fees are $4 for adults and $2 for seniors, students, and children. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Visit the museum's Web site at www.crsmithmuseum.org for more information.

More information about American's diversity and leadership strategies can be found at www.aa.com/diversity.

About American Airlines

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