Joseph P. Lash
Joseph P. Lash was an American author and journalist, born in the early 1900s in New York City. He pursued higher education at the City College of New York and Columbia University, earning a master's degree in 1932. During World War II, Lash served in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Air Medal for his contributions. In 1944, he married Trude Wenzel, a prominent figure in children's advocacy, and they had one son. Lash's professional career included directing Americans for Democratic Action and serving as the United Nations correspondent for the New York Post from 1950 to 1961, followed by a position as assistant editor of the editorial page.
Lash is renowned for his biographies, particularly those focused on Eleanor Roosevelt, a close friend. His first significant work, "Eleanor Roosevelt: A Friend's Memoir," was published in 1965, and he later won the Pulitzer Prize for "Eleanor and Franklin: The Story of Their Relationship Based on Eleanor Roosevelt's Private Papers" in 1971. Over his career, he authored six biographies of Roosevelt and wrote other notable works, including "Roosevelt and Churchill: A Study of Their Relationship" and "Helen and Teacher: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy." Lash's contributions to literature and history provide valuable insights into significant American figures and their relationships.
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Joseph P. Lash
Author
- Born: December 2, 1909
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: August 22, 1987
- Place of death: Boston, Massachusetts
Biography
Joseph P. Lash was born in the early 1900’s in New York City. The son of a storekeeper, Lash attended the City College of the City University of New York and Columbia University, earning his master’s degree in 1932. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning the Air Medal for his service.
In 1944, Lash married the director of the Citizens’ Committee for Children, Trude Wenzel. They had one son together. Two years later, Lash became the director of Americans for Democratic Action. From 1950 to 1961, Lash served as the United Nations correspondent for the New York Post. He then spent five years as the assistant editor of the editorial page before becoming a freelance writer.
Lash’s first book, Dag Hammarskjold: Custodian of the Brushfire Peace, was published in 1961. His most celebrated works, however, are his biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt, who was a dear friend of his. The first of these books was Eleanor Roosevelt: A Friend’s Memoir, published in 1965. His next work, Eleanor and Franklin: The Story of Their Relationship Based on Eleanor Roosevelt’s Private Papers, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1971.
Lash wrote a total of six books about Eleanor Roosevelt, including Eleanor: The Years Alone and Life Was Meant to Be Lived: A Centenary Portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt. Two other notable works by Lash include Roosevelt and Churchill: A Study of Their Relationship, which received the Samuel E. Morison Award for history, and Helen and Teacher: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy, which was awarded the American Library Association Notable Book citation.