Milton Brooks
American photojournalist (1901–1956)
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Milton E. "Pete" Brooks (August 29, 1901 – September 3, 1956) was an American photojournalist who won the first Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1942.
August 29, 1901
Milton Brooks | |
|---|---|
Brooks in 1942 | |
| Born | Milton E. Brooks August 29, 1901 St. Louis, Missouri US |
| Died | September 3, 1956 (aged 55) |
| Other names | Pete |
| Occupation | Photojournalist |
Biography
Brooks was born on August 29, 1901, in St. Louis. His father, James W. Brooks, was also a newspaper reporter and "desk man".[1] Brooks worked for the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Herald-Examiner, New York Daily News, and Paramount News.[2] From 1928 to 1953, he was a staff photographer for The Detroit News.[1] He typically took one photograph per event, waiting for the most interesting thing to happen.[2] After leaving The Detroit News, he became a commercial photographer. Physically, he was a stocky red-headed man, and he hobbied in boating.[1] He died on September 3, 1956, aged 55, in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.[3]
Ford Strikers Riot
In 1942, Brooks won the inaugural Pulitzer Prize for Photography. The photograph, which he took on April 3, 1941,[4] was named The Picket Line in an early mention,[5] though came to be known as Ford Strikers Riot. It was taken during the 1941 workers' strike at the Ford River Rouge complex, and depicts strikers beating a strikebreaker, who is trying to protect himself by pulling his coat over his head and face.[6] Brooks was awarded $500 by newspaperman Geoffrey Parsons for the photograph,[7][8] as well as a $100 prize in the seventh Editor & Publisher photography contest on April 17.[9][5]
Describing the circumstances surrounding the photo, Brooks said, "I took the picture quickly, hid the camera under my coat and ducked into the crowd. A lot of people would have liked to wreck that picture".[10]