Definition
The 1927 Pulitzer Prize denotes the set of awards presented in 1927 by Columbia University’s Pulitzer Board to recognize distinguished achievements in newspaper journalism, the literary arts, drama, and music for work completed during the preceding calendar year.
Overview
The Pulitzer Prizes, established in 1917 by the will of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, are granted annually in a series of categories that have evolved over time. In 1927, the awards encompassed both journalism and letters & drama categories, reflecting the Board’s mandate to honor excellence in reporting, editorial writing, cartooning, as well as in biography, history, poetry, and drama. The laureates for each category were selected by a jury of scholars and journalists and announced in May 1927, with the awards formally bestowed at a ceremony at Columbia University.
Etymology / Origin
The term combines the calendar year “1927” with “Pulitzer Prize,” the latter name derived from Joseph Pulitzer (1847–1911), a Hungarian‑American newspaper publisher whose endowment created the awards. The year qualifier specifies the particular cycle of the prize in which the winning works were produced and recognized.
Characteristics
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Pulitzer Board of Columbia University, operating under the guidelines set forth in Joseph Pulitzer’s bequest. |
| Eligibility Period | Works published or performed during the 1926 calendar year were eligible for the 1927 awards. |
| Journalism Categories (1927) | • Reporting (later known as “Investigative Reporting”) • Correspondence • Editorial Writing • Editorial Cartooning |
| Letters & Drama Categories (1927) | • Biography or Autobiography • History • Poetry • Drama |
| Selection Process | Nominations are submitted by newspapers, publishing houses, and individuals. Separate juries for journalism and letters review submissions, create shortlists, and recommend winners to the Board, which makes the final decision. |
| Prize | Recipients receive a certificate and a cash award (the monetary amount in 1927 was $1,000 per prize). |
| Historical Context | The 1927 awards were presented during a period of expanding mass media and literary modernism in the United States, underscoring the growing importance of investigative journalism and American cultural production. |
Related Topics
- Pulitzer Prize – The overarching award program of which the 1927 cycle is one installment.
- 1927 in Journalism – Notable events, news stories, and developments in the press during the eligibility year.
- 1927 in Literature – Prominent books, poems, and theatrical works published in 1926 that were considered for the 1927 honors.
- Joseph Pulitzer – Newspaper publisher whose legacy established the prize.
- Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism – Institution that administers the Pulitzer Board.
Accurate information about the specific winners of each 1927 category is documented in the official Pulitzer archives; detailed listings can be consulted there for precise laureate names and cited works.