Robert Frost was a famous American poet, and winner of numerous awards and accolades during his lifetime. He won four Pulitzer Prizes for his work, beginning with the 1919 award for New Hampshire: A Poem with Notes and Grace Notes. His second Pulitzer Prize came in 1924 for Collected Poems, while the third and fourth were awarded in 1931 and 1937, respectively, for Collected Poems and A Further Range. It is the only time in history that an author has won four Pulitzers for poetry.
Frost also won the Bollingen Prize (1949), the British Poet Laureate Award (1961), the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Arts and Letters (1955), and the Coolidge Medal (1960). In addition, he received numerous honorary degrees, including Doctorates of Letters from Cambridge University, Oxford University, and Yale University, among others.
Frost was a beloved figure in the literary world, and is widely regarded as one of the most important American poets. In addition to his numerous awards, he was honored with many prestigious residencies and fellowships, including the Guggenheim Fellowship (1937-1938), a Fellowship at the Library of Congress (1938-1939), and a Fellowship from the National Institute of Arts and Letters (1939-1940). He also served as a lecturer at Harvard University for many years.
In recognition of his contributions to literature, Frost was awarded the first Edward MacDowell Medal by the MacDowell Colony in 1960. The colony, an artists’ retreat, is located in Peterborough, New Hampshire, where Frost lived and wrote in his later years. He received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1962, and the National Medal of Arts in 1985. The Frost Place in Franconia, New Hampshire, is a museum dedicated to his life and works.
Robert Frost’s legacy is one of brilliance and innovation. He bridged the divide between the 19th and 20th century poetic traditions, and created a singular body of work rich in philosophical and political insight. His works remain widely read and studied today, and his incredible accomplishments are celebrated all over the world.
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the United States. Robert Frost won four Pulitzer Prizes for his work, beginning with the 1919 award for New Hampshire: A Poem with Notes and Grace Notes. His second Pulitzer Prize came in 1924 for Collected Poems, while the third and fourth were awarded in 1931 and 1937, respectively, for Collected Poems and A Further Range. To this day, he is the only American poet to have won four Pulitzers.
The Pulitzer Prizes are given annually to recognize and reward excellence in newspapers, magazines and digital media, literature and musical composition in the United States. The awards are presented by Columbia University. Notable Pulitzer Prize winners include Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison, Harper Lee and John Steinbeck, among many others.
The Pulitzer Prize was established in 1917, when New York City newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer bequeathed money to Columbia University to support the awards. The prize is named in his honor, and has recognized and rewarded outstanding contributions to literature and music in America for more than 100 years.
Robert Frost’s four Pulitzer Prizes are a testament to his creativity and brilliance. He stands as a testament to the immense possibilities inherent in literature, and is an inspiration to many current and aspiring writers.
Bollingen Prize
The Bollingen Prize for Poetry is an annual award presented by Yale University to recognize lifetime achievement in poetry. It was established in 1949 when Paul Mellon donated a fund in honor of his parents, the Paul and Charlotte Whitney Mellon. Robert Frost was awarded the first Bollingen Prize in 1949 in recognition of his lifetime of work.
The award has evolved over the years, and is currently administered by the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University. The prize honors a living American poet or group of poets whose work has contributed significantly to literature, and may be awarded to one poet in any given year, or to several to recognize a body of collective work.
The Bollingen Prize has helped draw attention to some of America’s most prominent poets, including Ezra Pound, John Crowe Ransom, Wallace Stevens, Robert Penn Warren and Richard Wilbur. In addition to Frost, the list of notable Bollingen Prize winners includes Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou, A.R. Ammons, Robert Hayden and Adrienne Rich.
Robert Frost’s Bollingen Prize was an immense honor, and further cemented his reputation as the preeminent American poet of his generation. The award recognized him as a major cultural figure and served to further elevate his achievements and contributions to American letters.
British Poet Laureate Award
The British Poet Laureate is an honorary position appointed by the British monarch, and held by a poet from the United Kingdom in recognition of his or her work. Robert Frost was the first American poet to be appointed to the position, holding the post from 1961 until his death in 1963.
The Poet Laureate produces work related to events of national importance, such as the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s rule. The post has been held by some of the greatest British poets, including William Wordsworth, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Sir John Betjeman, Ted Hughes and Andrew Motion. Frost was the first foreigner to ever hold the post.
Frost was an apt choice for the position. He was widely held in high esteem by British literati, and his visits to the United Kingdom in the 1920s and 30s had been a resounding success. The awarding of the British Poet Laureate was a unique honor, and reflected the great respect with which Frost was regarded in the United Kingdom.
Frost’s time as Poet Laureate was too brief, but it was an immense honor that speaks to his legacy as one of America’s greatest poets. His work is remembered and celebrated today, both in the United States and in the United Kingdom.
Gold Medal of the National Institute of Arts and Letters
The Gold Medal for Poetry is an award presented by the National Institute of Arts and Letters to recognize achievement in poetry. Robert Frost was the recipient of the 1955 Gold Medal, making him the third poet to receive the award after Stephen Vincent Benet and Ezra Pound.
The National Institute of Arts and Letters was founded in 1898, and is one of the leading cultural and literary organizations in the United States. The Institute promotes the recognition of high artistic standards, and seeks to fill a void in American culture in the way of honoring outstanding contributions to literature, music, and the performing arts.
The Gold Medal for Poetry was established in 1934, and has been bestowed on some of America’s greatest poets. In addition to Frost, the list of recipients includes Robert Penn Warren, Carl Sandburg, Wallace Stevens, Marianne Moore, Elizabeth Bishop, W.H. Auden, Mary Oliver and Adrienne Rich.
Robert Frost’s receipt of the Gold Medal recognized his immense achievements in the realm of poetry, and paid homage to his mastery of craft and his place in the pantheon of American poets. His works continue to captivate and inspire readers today.
Coolidge Medal
The Coolidge Medal of the Coolidge Foundation is an award presented annually to recognize outstanding achievement in literature, music, and the visual arts. Robert Frost was the recipient of the 1960 Coolidge Medal, a fitting honor for a poet of his stature.
The Coolidge Foundation is a private charitable trust founded in 1952, and is dedicated to the principles and legacy of President Calvin Coolidge. The Foundation works towards promoting scholarship and education, and also administers the Coolidge Presidential Prize and the Coolidge Medal, which have recognized and rewarded many of the most influential American authors and artists.
Notable recipients of the Coolidge Medal include Frank Lloyd Wright, Leonard Bernstein, Thornton Wilder, Willem de Kooning, Susan Sontag, Robert Lowell, James Galway, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou and Robert Frost. In addition, several former United States presidents have also been honored with the medal.
Robert Frost’s receipt of the Coolidge Medal in 1960 was a well-deserved tribute to a master of the written word. Frost was widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of all time, and the award celebrated his immense achievements in the field.
Honorary Degrees
Robert Frost was awarded numerous honorary degrees during his lifetime. Such degrees are awarded to celebrate the achievements of an individual, and honor them with a symbolic degree in recognition of their accomplishments. He received honorary degrees from a variety of universities and colleges, including Doctorates of Letters from Cambridge University, Oxford University and Yale University.
Other institutions that awarded Frost honorary degrees include Amherst College, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University and Columbia University. Frost was an avid supporter of education, and these honorary degrees were a fitting tribute to his influence and literary prowess.
Frost also held numerous prestigious residencies and fellowships, including a Fellowship at the Library of Congress, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Fellowship from the National Institute of Arts and Letters. He also served as a lecturer at Harvard University for many years.
The honorary degrees and residencies that Frost received serve as a testament to his immense talent and creativity. He was an esteemed figure in the world of literature, and his works have had a profound effect on generations of readers.
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States. It is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the security of the United States, the welfare of its citizens and the advancement of world peace. Robert Frost was a recipient of the award, given to him by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established in 1945 by President Harry S. Truman, and is bestowed by the U.S. President to recognize individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States. Notable recipients of the award include Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Jacques Cousteau, Elie Wiesel and Oprah Winfrey.
Frost’s receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was an immense honor, and a tribute to his immense popularity. The award symbolically acknowledged his prolific literary works, and his importance to American culture.
National Medal of Arts
The National Medal of Arts is an award presented by the United States government to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts. Robert Frost was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1985 in recognition of his contribution to American literature.
The National Medal of Arts was established by Congress in 1984 as an official recognition of significant contributions to the arts. Notable recipients include Bob Dylan, Leonard Bernstein, Ella Fitzgerald, Helen Hayes, Norman Rockwell and John Steinbeck. Frost was the first poet to be honored with the award.
Robert Frost’s receipt of the National Medal of Arts was an immense honor. It was a fitting tribute to his immense talent and creativity, and a recognition of a singular body of work.
The Frost Place
The Frost Place is a museum and poetry center dedicated to the life and works of Robert Frost. It is located in Franconia, New Hampshire, where Frost spent the last years of his life. Today, it serves as a museum and educational center, and offers literary readings, lectures and workshops.
The Center was founded by the Robert Frost Foundation in 1953, and seeks to promote education and understanding of Frost’s contributions to literature. It also serves to honor the legacy of one of America’s greatest poets, and celebrates his life and work
