National Geographic Magazine/Volume 16/Number 1/Why no Americans have received Nobel Prizes

WHY NO AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED NOBEL PRIZES

PROBABLY the first thought of Americans on reading the announcement of the award of the "Nobel Prizes" of $40,000 each for 1904 was surprise that not a single American received a prize. Americans are doing noble work in the physical sciences, in literature, in medicine and surgery, in chemistry, and in the humanities. A prize of about $40,000 is awarded annually for achievements in each of these branches, and yet no American has received a prize. The reason is not lack of appreciation abroad of what we are doing in this country, but the neglect of Americans to apply for the prizes, owing to misunderstanding of the manner in which the awards are made. In the awarding of prizes only those persons are considered who are formally nominated as candidates by some institution, college, or scientific society of rank and character. Not a single American, we are informed, has yet been presented for consideration, and the impression abroad is that Americans are not interested in the prizes. The awards are made in physical sciences and chemistry by the Academy of Science of Stockholm, in medicine by the medical faculty of the university, in literature by the Swedish Academy, and in the humanities by the Norwegian Storthing. Mr W. E. Curtis in his public letter of December 26 calls attention to this mutual misunderstanding. It is to be hoped that hereafter for each prize the name of at least one American will be formally presented as a candidate. Any one can compete, but his or her name must be presented by a worthy institution.