Henry F. Pringle was an American historian and author most famous for his witty but scholarly biography of Theodore Roosevelt which won the Pulitzer prize in 1932, as well as a scholarly biography of William Howard Taft. His work in the field of journalism reached many aspects of public and private life.
Pringle stayed in New York to begin his career in journalism. He wrote freelance for papers such as the New York Globe, the New York Sun, and the New York World. In 1931, he published Theodore Roosevelt: A Biography. The book was unique in that Pringle did not shy from criticism of Roosevelt. depctying him with an adolescent judgment. For example: The biography provided information that had been avoided in previous accounts of Roosevelt’s life. The book went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for biography. In 1956 he published a shortened updated version. In 1939 he published The life and times of William Howard Taft, authorized by the Taft family. Pringle's biographer states:
Personal life
Pringle met Helena Huntington Smith in New York and later married her in 1926. In 1919, they had a son named Geoffrey who died in middle age due to severe brain damage. In 1932, their daughter Margot was born, and then their second son Robert in 1936. During World War Two, the family moved to Washington, D.C. Pringle never moved back to his hometown. While in D.C., Pringle worked for the Writers Division of the Office of War Information. In 1944, Helena and Henry got divorced. He later met Katharine Douglas and they were married in 1941.
Journalism career
Henry Pringle was a teacher of journalism at Columbia University from 1932 to 1943. His unique style of teaching involved sending his students out as reporters to learn firsthand. He’d then critique their pieces, acting as their editor. Pringle taught here until the move to Washington. After writing his book, Pringle moved away from writing in Newspapers to writing for various magazines, such as the Saturday Evening Post and the New Yorker. In this way, he supported his family. He would sometimes work with his wife Katharine on articles.
Liberal Views
In many senses, Pringle was ahead of his time. Prior to US entry in World War Two, he urged intervention on the Allied side. This, like many of Pringle’s views, drew criticism and hate. Specifically, from pro-Nazi groups. However, Pringle held his views. Through writing an article for the Saturday Evening Post on the lack of African-American doctors, Pringle became involved in the issue of inequity towards blacks. This led to lasting friendships with faculty of Howard University.
Final Days
Henry Pringle was overtaken by disease later in life. His last work was a history of the Secondary Education Board, which he worked on with Katharine to attempt to improve segregated public schools in the American South. It was done through the Rockefeller Foundation, and when he died prior to its completion, it was finished by one of their staff rather than Katharine.
