Henry F. Pringle
Encyclopedia
Henry Fowles Pringle was an American historian and journalist who won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography
for his 1931 biography of Theodore Roosevelt
.
Pringle was born in New York City on August 23, 1897. He served in the army during World War I and graduated from Cornell University. He became a reporter for the New York Sun, New York Globe, and New York World. He won notice for his biographical articles, written in a muckraking style. This led to his first book, a 1927 campaign biography of New York Governor and presidential aspirant Al Smith
. In 1931, he published Theodore Roosevelt, a Biography, which debunked some of the former president's more colorful accounts of his own life. Pringle published a more sympathetic two-volume biography of William Howard Taft
in 1939.
After teaching at the Columbia School of Journalism from 1932 to 1942, Pringle moved to Washington during World War II to head the publications division of the United States Office of War Information
. In his later years he wrote magazine articles and book reviews. Pringle was married twice, to Helena Huntington Smith and to Katherine Douglas, and had two children. He died in Washington on April 7, 1958. At the time of his death, he was working on a joint biography of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, but the unfinished manuscript was never published. His papers are in the Library of Congress.
Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography
The Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography has been presented since 1917 for a distinguished biography or autobiography by an American author.-1910s:* 1917: Julia Ward Howe by Laura E...
for his 1931 biography of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
.
Pringle was born in New York City on August 23, 1897. He served in the army during World War I and graduated from Cornell University. He became a reporter for the New York Sun, New York Globe, and New York World. He won notice for his biographical articles, written in a muckraking style. This led to his first book, a 1927 campaign biography of New York Governor and presidential aspirant Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
. In 1931, he published Theodore Roosevelt, a Biography, which debunked some of the former president's more colorful accounts of his own life. Pringle published a more sympathetic two-volume biography of William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
in 1939.
After teaching at the Columbia School of Journalism from 1932 to 1942, Pringle moved to Washington during World War II to head the publications division of the United States 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...
. In his later years he wrote magazine articles and book reviews. Pringle was married twice, to Helena Huntington Smith and to Katherine Douglas, and had two children. He died in Washington on April 7, 1958. At the time of his death, he was working on a joint biography of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, but the unfinished manuscript was never published. His papers are in the Library of Congress.