After returning home from war, Putnam led two Arctic expeditions (via Heavy). The goal of the trips was to collect wildlife specimens; they were sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History. He was already a big name in publishing, working with clients like Charles Lindbergh, and was transitioning to a role as a promoter, a job more like the modern-day agent. Through his aviation connections with Lindbergh, he met Earhart and became fascinated by the staunchly independent woman, and became her promoter.

Their relationship gradually transitioned from professional to romantic, but Earhart had little interest in marriage, and repeatedly rejected Putnam’s proposals. When she finally acquiesced, there were several conditions (via Newsweek). A letter she wrote to her fiancee left in no uncertain terms that the two would not be “bound” to each other, suggesting an open relationship between the two. She also requested that their marriage be broken off in a year if they weren’t happy. That second clause wasn’t necessary, as they remained married from 1931 until Earhart’s disappearance in 1937. The publisher/agent/mayor/Arctic explorer was heartbroken by the loss, and even consulted mediums to help with the grief. Just like Earhart herself, their marriage was largely ahead of its time, and just a little bit eccentric.