1999 Pulitzer Prize for History Awarded to> > Brooklyn College Professor

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April 15, 1999
1999 Pulitzer Prize for History Awarded to
Brooklyn College Professor

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Brooklyn, NY - Edwin G. Burrows,professor of history at Brooklyn College, has won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize forHistory for his book Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 (Oxford University Press, 1998). Dr. Burrows coauthored the 1,383-page epicwith Mike Wallace, professor of history at John Jay College of CriminalJustice.

The monumental work weaves togetherthe vast and varied past of New York City, including sex and sewer systems, finance and architecture, immigration and politics, and poetry andcrime. Prior to its recognition with the Pulitzer, the book received scoresof rave reviews across the United States.

"This award is the culmination oftwenty years' worth of research, writing, and teamwork," said Dr. Burrows. "Mike and I are euphoric and extremely grateful for the acknowledgment of our efforts."

Dr. Burrows also points out that Gotham is not merely a Manhattan story. In fact, he says that Brooklyn gets more attention in the book than any other borough.

For example, the book describesBrooklyn as a scattered, rural, farm community where the British army once marchedup what is now Flatbush Avenue, chasing George Washington.

"Gotham is an extraordinaryachievement," said Vernon E. Lattin, president of Brooklyn College. "Suchrecognition is further testimony to the superb faculty we have at CUNY."

Gotham has also been named Bookof the Year by the New York Society Library.

Excelsior, a Brooklyn College newspaper, named Dr. Burrows "Best Core 4 Teacher" in 1995 and in 1992he was the recipient of the Wolfe Fellowship, a prestigious honor given by Brooklyn College to outstanding members of the faculty.

Dr. Burrows graduated with a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan in 1964. He pursued graduatestudies in history at Columbia University, earning an M.A. in 1966 and a Ph.D.in 1974.