Edgar Ansel Mowrer
Encyclopedia
Edgar Ansel Mowrer was a Pulitzer Prize
-winning journalist and author best known for his writings on international events.
Born in Bloomington, Illinois
, Mowrer graduated from the University of Michigan
in 1913. From his elder brother, Paul Scott Mowrer
, the editor of Chicago Daily News
, Mowrer received a job and in 1914 went to France as a foreign correspondent. From there he reported on events throughout the First World War
, including the Italians' defeat at the Battle of Caporetto
. In 1916, he married Lilian Thomson; the two had a daughter, Diana, and would remain together until Mowrer's death 61 years later.
Mowrer remained a correspondent in Europe throughout the 1920s and 1930s, living in Rome
for eight years before moving to Berlin
. In 1933, Mowrer won the Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence
for his reporting on the rise of Adolf Hitler
in Germany, and was named president of the Foreign Press Association. With the Germans pressuring him to leave because of his reporting on the Nazi regime, Mowrer agreed to depart in return for the release of Paul Goldmann, an elderly Jewish correspondent for the Austrian newspaper Neue Freie Presse
. Initially, he becamethe Chicago Daily News Tokyo correspondent, then later took over as the Paris
bureau chief, continuing to report on European affairs until France's defeat by German forces in 1940.
Returning to the United States, Mowrer served as the Deputy Director, first of the Office of Facts and Figures, then, after the OFF's consolidation, of the Office of War Information
, from 1942 until 1943. Upon his departure, he started his column "Edgar Mowrer on World Affairs," which he later supplemented with a column entitled "What's Your Question on World Affairs?" After the Second World War
, Mowrer wrote a number of books and helped organize the Americans for Democratic Action
. In 1956, he took over as editor of Western World magazine, a position he held for four years. In 1969, he moved to Wonalancet, New Hampshire
and wrote a column for The Union Leader
until 1976.
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning journalist and author best known for his writings on international events.
Born in Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, Mowrer graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1913. From his elder brother, Paul Scott Mowrer
Paul Scott Mowrer
Paul Scott Mowrer was an American newspaper correspondent, born in Bloomington, Illinois. He studied at the University of Michigan and began his newspaper career as a reporter in Chicago, in 1905. He was a correspondent at the front during the 1st Balkan War and again in the War in Europe from...
, the editor of Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
, Mowrer received a job and in 1914 went to France as a foreign correspondent. From there he reported on events throughout the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, including the Italians' defeat at the Battle of Caporetto
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
. In 1916, he married Lilian Thomson; the two had a daughter, Diana, and would remain together until Mowrer's death 61 years later.
Mowrer remained a correspondent in Europe throughout the 1920s and 1930s, living in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for eight years before moving to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1933, Mowrer won the Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence
Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence
The Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence was awarded from 1929 to 1947.-Winners:*1929: Paul Scott Mowrer of the Chicago Daily News, for his coverage of international affairs including the Franco-British Naval Pact and Germany's campaign for revision of the Dawes Plan.*1930: Leland Stowe of New York...
for his reporting on the rise of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
in Germany, and was named president of the Foreign Press Association. With the Germans pressuring him to leave because of his reporting on the Nazi regime, Mowrer agreed to depart in return for the release of Paul Goldmann, an elderly Jewish correspondent for the Austrian newspaper Neue Freie Presse
Neue Freie Presse
Neue Freie Presse known locally as "Die Presse" was a Viennese newspaper founded by Adolf Werthner together with the journalists Max Friedländer and Michael Etienne on 1 September 1864...
. Initially, he becamethe Chicago Daily News Tokyo correspondent, then later took over as the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
bureau chief, continuing to report on European affairs until France's defeat by German forces in 1940.
Returning to the United States, Mowrer served as the Deputy Director, first of the Office of Facts and Figures, then, after the OFF's consolidation, of the Office of War Information
United States Office of War Information
The United States Office of War Information was a U.S. government agency created during World War II to consolidate government information services. It operated from June 1942 until September 1945...
, from 1942 until 1943. Upon his departure, he started his column "Edgar Mowrer on World Affairs," which he later supplemented with a column entitled "What's Your Question on World Affairs?" After the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Mowrer wrote a number of books and helped organize the Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.-History:...
. In 1956, he took over as editor of Western World magazine, a position he held for four years. In 1969, he moved to Wonalancet, New Hampshire
Wonalancet, New Hampshire
Wonalancet is a village in the northwestern corner of the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. Many popular hiking trails into the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains have trailheads in the area, particularly in the locale known as Ferncroft, up a short spur road...
and wrote a column for The Union Leader
New Hampshire Union Leader
The New Hampshire Union Leader is the daily newspaper of Manchester, the largest city in the state of New Hampshire. As of September 2010 it had a daily circulation of 48,342 and the circulation of its Sunday paper, the New Hampshire Sunday News, was 63,991. It was founded in 1863.It was called...
until 1976.
Further reading
- Grant Duff, Shiela, The Parting of Ways: a Personal Account of the Thirties. Memoir by a British reporter who mentored under Mowrer
- Larson, Erik, In the Garden of Beasts, Chapter 9