1940: Pulitzer Prizes

The Pulitzer Prizes in Letters and Journalism for 1939 were awarded May 6, 1940. The prizes, established in 1915 by the will of the late Joseph Pulitzer, are presented annually by the trustees of Columbia University acting upon recommendations by the Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Journalism.

The awards were made as follows: In drama, William Saroyan's unique and picturesque character comedy, 'The Time of Your Life,' won the Pulitzer Prize of $1,000 for 'an original American play, preferably dealing with American life.' Mr. Saroyan caused a minor sensation by declining the award on the ground that he did not believe in prizes in the realm of the arts and was particularly opposed to patronage of the arts by government, industry or commercial enterprises. This gesture was reminiscent of a similar refusal of the Pulitzer novel award in 1926 by Sinclair Lewis, when the prize was offered to him for his novel 'Arrowsmith.' The prize money in both cases was returned to the Pulitzer fund. In literature, the Pulitzer Prize of $1,000 for 'a distinguished novel published during the year by an American author, preferably dealing with American life,' was awarded to 'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck. This widely acclaimed book dealt in powerful and moving fashion with the plight of the Dust Bowl refugees. In biography, 'Woodrow Wilson: Life and Letters,' the final volumes, VII and VIII, Ray Stannard Baker's monumental and definitive study of the World War statesman and president, received the $1,000 Pulitzer prize for 'a distinguished American biography teaching patriotic and unselfish services to the people, illustrated by an eminent example, excluding as too obvious the names of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.' For 'a distinguished volume of verse published during the year by an American author,' Mark Van Doren's volume of 'Selected Poems' was awarded the $1,000 prize. In the field of history, the $1,000 prize went to 'Abraham Lincoln: The War Years' by Carl Sandburg, for 'a distinguished book of the year on the history of the United States.'

In journalism, S. Burton Heath of the New York World-Telegram received the $1,000 prize for the best reporting of the year. The award was based specifically on his series of articles on Federal Judge Martin T. Manton that led to the latter's resignation, indictment, and conviction for accepting financial favors from companies whose affairs were before him for judicial decision. Otto D. Tolischus, special Berlin correspondent of the New York Times, won the $500 prize for 'distinguished service as a foreign or Washington correspondent.' The $500 award for excellence in editorial writing was given to Bart Howard of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Gold Medal annually awarded for 'the most disinterested and meritorious public service rendered by an American newspaper during the year,' was presented to the Waterbury (Conn.) Republican and American, with special mention of a series of articles and cartoons published in this paper concerning corrupt practices in the city's administration, which resulted in the indictment, trial and conviction of a number of city officials.

Edmund Duffy of the Baltimore Sun won the $500 prize for 'a distinguished example of a cartoonist's work' with his cartoon 'The Outstretched Hand.' This cartoon depicts Hitler standing over ruined cities and crushed peoples offering his hand, outstretched and dripping with blood, in a gesture of peace. The Pulitzer cartoon award was presented to Mr. Duffy for the third time, the first award being given to him in 1931 and the second in 1934.