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   240 Museum Drive

 Lansing MI 48933

 (517) 372-0529
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Spotlighting Leadership —
Remembering: 
          Helen Earley,
                        The first lady of Oldsmobile
The R.E. Olds Chapter Remembers Helen Earley
from the Winter 2007 The SPIRIT - article by Judy Badgley.
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Portrait of Helen Earley painted by Joe Dumont of Grand Ledge, MI.
Helen Earley worked for Oldsmobile over 50 years. During that time she collected and preserved countless amounts of historic Oldsmobile information. Helen Earley worked for Oldsmobile over 50 years. During that time she collected and preserved countless amounts of historic Oldsmobile information.

In the late 70’s, she became part of a committee to create a Lansing museum of transportation. That museum became the R. E. Olds Transportation Museum and the doors opened May, 1981. Helen served on the Museum Board of Directors for several years.

In the early 80’s, Helen was part of a committee that was planning a national Oldsmobile car show in Lansing for the Oldsmobile Club of America. In 1984, that committee became the charter members of the R. E. Olds Chapter of the OCA. Helen served many years as the Chapter secretary and then as editor of the newsletter.
Helen Earley worked for Oldsmobile over 50 years. During that time she collected and preserved countless amounts of historic Oldsmobile information.

When Helen retired from Oldsmobile she, along with Jim Walkinshaw her business partner, formed the Oldsmobile History Center. Helen and Jim combined their collections with Oldsmobile’s archives and became the “place to go” for Olds enthusiasts to research and answer questions about their car.

In 1996 Helen and Jim co-authored the book “Setting the Pace”. This book is a complete history of Olds and the people that worked there. This book was followed by a second pictorial book, "Oldsmobile the War Years" and then a third book, "Oldsmobile the Final Chapter."

Helen did not see the publication of the final book. She passed away in January, 2005. Her love of Oldsmobile created a bond with thousands of Oldsmobile enthusiasts around the world. They admired her for her dedication. She was a gentle lady who became known as the First Lady of Oldsmobile.

The members of the R. E. Olds Chapter wanted to do something unique to honor her memory. A committee was formed. Several ideas were discussed and a decision was made to commission an oil portrait to hang in the Museum that she was instrumental in starting and supporting.

Several area artists were asked to provide samples of their work before making a decision. Joe Dumont of Grand Ledge, Michigan was commissioned to do the painting. Joe would have to create the painting using photographs of Helen. He also took time to talk to people that knew Helen and to get to know her before beginning.

The portrait took several months to complete, but he created a painting that captured Helen and her enthusiasm for Oldsmobile. The portrait depicts Helen standing behind a desk with several of the Setting The Pace books for her to autograph. The artist added a single rose lying near the books. As he described: “I believe she was the kind of person an enthusiast would have brought a rose. "

December 4, 2006, at the R. E. Olds Museum Annual Membership Meeting, Judy Badgley, representing the members of R. E. Olds Chapter donated the portrait to the Museum. The oil painting is 42" x 54", nearly life size, and will hang in the Helen Jones Earley Library of the R. E. Olds Transportation Museum.
 
Updated: 3/7/08
Elements of graphic design and photography by CiesaDesign for Museum brochure.
Updated 3/24/08