Nan C. Robertson
Encyclopedia
Nan C. Robertson was an American
journalist, author and instructor in journalism.
, where she was a member of Alpha Phi
sorority until she graduated in 1948. She traveled to Europe and was a reporter for Stars and Stripes
in Germany
(1948–49) and a fashion publicist in Paris
(1950). From 1951 to 1953, she was a correspondent in Germany for the Milwaukee Journal and a feature writer and columnist — based in Paris, Berlin
, Frankfurt
and London
— for the New York Herald Tribune
from 1952 to 1953. Robertson also reported for the London American Daily from 1953 to 1954.
Robertson joined the staff of The New York Times
in 1955, beginning as a general assignment reporter for the city desk and women's news.
From 1963 to 1972, Robertson was a Washington
correspondent, focusing on the White House, Congress, presidential campaigns and voting and campus political trends across the United States. From 1972 to 1975, she was based in Paris, covering France, neighboring countries and the Turkish
invasion of Cyprus
. From 1975 to 1982, Robertson reported for the Living and Style sections.
In 1983, Robertson won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
for her memorable and medically detailed account of her struggle with toxic shock syndrome
, a cover story for The New York Times Magazine which at that time became the most widely syndicated article in Times history.
She formally retired from the Times in 1988 (serving her last five years as a reporter on the cultural news desk), but continued to write for the paper until 1996.
In 1994, Robertson became the first Eugene L. Roberts Visiting Professor of Journalism at the University of Maryland
.
She died in Rockville, Maryland
at the age of 83.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, author and instructor in journalism.
Five decades in journalism
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Robertson attended Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, where she was a member of Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi International Women's Fraternity was founded at Syracuse University on September 18, 1872. Alpha Phi currently has 152 active chapters and over 200,000 initiated members. Its celebrated Founders' Day is October 10. It was the third Greek-letter organization founded for women. In Alpha...
sorority until she graduated in 1948. She traveled to Europe and was a reporter for Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes (newspaper)
Stars and Stripes is a news source that operates from inside the United States Department of Defense but is editorially separate from it. The First Amendment protection which Stars and Stripes enjoys is safeguarded by Congress to whom an independent ombudsman, who serves the readers' interests,...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1948–49) and a fashion publicist in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1950). From 1951 to 1953, she was a correspondent in Germany for the Milwaukee Journal and a feature writer and columnist — based in Paris, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
— for the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
from 1952 to 1953. Robertson also reported for the London American Daily from 1953 to 1954.
Robertson joined the staff of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in 1955, beginning as a general assignment reporter for the city desk and women's news.
From 1963 to 1972, Robertson was a Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
correspondent, focusing on the White House, Congress, presidential campaigns and voting and campus political trends across the United States. From 1972 to 1975, she was based in Paris, covering France, neighboring countries and the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
invasion of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. From 1975 to 1982, Robertson reported for the Living and Style sections.
In 1983, Robertson won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
The Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing has been awarded since 1979 for a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.-List of winners and their...
for her memorable and medically detailed account of her struggle with toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome is a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin. Different bacterial toxins may cause toxic shock syndrome, depending on the situation. The causative bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes...
, a cover story for The New York Times Magazine which at that time became the most widely syndicated article in Times history.
She formally retired from the Times in 1988 (serving her last five years as a reporter on the cultural news desk), but continued to write for the paper until 1996.
In 1994, Robertson became the first Eugene L. Roberts Visiting Professor of Journalism at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
She died in Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
at the age of 83.
Other awards
In addition to her Pulitzer Prize, Robertson is a recipient of the following:- 1962 - Newswomen's Club of New York - Feature Writing Award
- 1980 - Newswomen's Club of New York - Best Feature Front Page Award
- 1981 and 1983 - Fellowship at the MacDowell ColonyMacDowell ColonyThe MacDowell Colony is an art colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire, U.S.A., founded in 1907 by Marian MacDowell, pianist and wife of composer Edward MacDowell. She established the institution and its endowment chiefly with donated funds...
- 1982 - Newswomen's Club of New York - Special Award for Excellence
- 1983 - Newspaper Guild of New York - Page One Award
- 1983 - Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship
- 1991 - Northwestern University Alumnae Award
- 1992 - Northwestern University - honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters
- 1993 - International Women's Media Foundation - Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2009 - Washington Press Club - Lifetime Achievement Award