The National Medal for Literature was a literary award recognizing an individual for distinguished and continuing contributions to American letters. First presented to Thornton Wilder by Lady Bird Johnson at a White House ceremony in 1965,[1] the award consisted of a cash prize of $15,000 and a bronze medal.[2]
The National Medal for Literature was established by the National Book Committee, a nonprofit society; other sponsors included the National Institute of Arts and Letters (1975–77), and the New York Public Library (1978, 1984).[3] The National Medal for Literature was typically presented as part of the National Book Awards, renamed the American Book Awards during the 1980s.[4]
The medal was not presented for 1974–75, nor 1982–83. After a brief hiatus, the prize was effectively replaced in 1988 with the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, awarded by the National Book Foundation.