Agness Underwood

Agness May Underwood ( Wilson; December 17, 1902 – July 3, 1984) was an American journalist and newspaper editor and one of the first women in the United States to hold a city editorship on a major metropolitan daily. She was preceded by Laura Vitray who became city editor of the New York Evening Graphic in 1930 and by Mary Holland Kinkaid who was city editor at the old Herald, likely in the early 1900s. She worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Record from 1928 to 1935, the Herald-Express from 1935 to 1962 and the Herald-Examiner from 1962 to 1968.

Life and career

Agnes May Wilson was born in San Francisco, California, to Clifford Wilson, a journeyman glass-blower, and Mamie Sullivan Wilson, a housewife.

CBS lawsuit

On April 22, 1981, Underwood's attorney, Caryl Warner, filed a $110 million defamation lawsuit against author Ovid Demaris and publisher Times Books over a passage in The Last Mafioso. The book related the life story of mobster Jimmy "The Weasel" Fratianno. The contested passage referred to an incident in the late 1940s involving gangster Mickey Cohen. According to Fratianno, Cohen had pocketed $1 million from contributors to the Israeli cause by planting a false story in the Herald-Express stating that the ship carrying the money had gone down at sea. Fratianno was quoted as saying:

"[Cohen's] got this broad at the Herald, Aggie Underwood. She's a big editor there and this broad would walk on hot coals for Mickey. Prints any shit he gives her. The way I see it, Mickey called her and made up a story about buying guns and ammunition for the Jews and told her the boat sank."

Honors and awards

March 31, 1949. Woman of Achievement Award, American Legion, Los Angeles County Council and its Auxiliary. July 27, 1949. National Headliner Award, for outstanding achievement in journalism, Theta Sigma Phi, at its national convention, Dallas, Texas. April 15, 1950. A guest of honor, annual banquet, Women's National Press Club, Washington, D.C. August 11, 1951. Honorary degree, Master of Business Administration, Woodbury College, Los Angeles. February 16, 1952. Golden Flame Award (first to be presented), California Association of Press Women. January 12, 1956. Trophy, for "outstanding achievement", "Life Is What You Make It", Columbia Broadcasting System television program. January 4, 1957. Citation, for "success in her chosen field of journalism", Los Angeles Commandery, Knights Templar. May 9, 1957. Citation, American Legion, District 17, California. May 16, 1957. Sister Pin Award, Delta Phi Epsilon foreign service fraternity. June 12, 1957. Outstanding Achievement Award, Women's Graphic Arts Club, Los Angeles. June 1957. Honorary Commander and Award, Port of Los Angeles, Board of Harbor Commissioners. June 12, 1958. Los Angeles City Council scroll containing copy of resolution passed unanimously, for outstanding service...to...journalism generally...and...her leadership...in numerous projects...for betterment of Los Angeles..." June 20, 1958. Honorary degree. Doctor of Laws, College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, Los Angeles. January 17, 1959. One of 348 Los Angeles Women listed in first edition of "Who's Who of American Women". December 13, 1960. Silver cup award as one of Los Angeles Times "women of the year". This was the Los Angeles Times first award for journalism." March 26, 1961. President's annual award, B'nai B'rith Girls of Southern California. "...for inspiration to teenage girls". July 28, 1961. "Newspaperwoman of the Year" guest of honor, Greater Los Angeles Press Club banquet. June 28, 1962. Medallion Award as "The Most Outstanding Woman in Journalism", National Federation of Press Women, convention, Denver, Colorado. July 7, 1962. Award of Merit, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of California. July 18, 1962. Mayor Samuel W. Yorty proclaimed "Aggie Underwood Day" in Los Angeles. Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed resolution designating "Aggie Underwood Day". The official documents were recorded in an illuminated, hand-lettered, leather-bound book presented to her. January 18, 1963. Humanitarianism Award, Los Angeles Cancer Prevention Society, for "...inspiring exemplification of dedicated service to the health and welfare of the community." April 20, 1963. Citation, "...in honor of her many achievements" and hailing her as "this nation's most outstanding newspaperwoman", Pacific Region, Soroptimist Federation of the Americas. June 23, 1963. Golden Lulu Award, Los Angeles Advertising Women, at 60th annual convention, Advertising Association of the West, Los Angeles. September 17, 1963. Citation as "Outstanding Woman of the Year" for 1963 in journalism, by Board of Editors, "Who's Who of American Woman" – one of thirteen cited as outstanding among 20,500 distinguished women listed in the book. December 8, 1963. "Woman of the Year" Humanitarian Award, B'nai B'rith, Hollywood Lodge, 11-11. March 18, 1964. Knightly Cross of St. Brigitte, Knightly Order of St. Brigitte, for "...outstanding service in the cause of Christian, patriotic, cultural and charitable endeavors". November 6, 1966. Printer's Devil Award, Theta Sigma Phi, Los Angeles Chapter, for outstanding achievement in journalism –the first time the award was presented to a woman. March 20, 1967. Citation, U.S. Social Security Administration, for "...journalistic excellence" and community service. October 26, 1967. Named honorary citizen of Montebello and officially presented key to city by Mayor Anthony Lambo, at first annual Montebello Art Festival. (First U.S. citizen so designated—honor theretofore confined to foreign dignitaries.)

Source: Agness Underwood Collection, California State University, Northridge

Legacy The Agness Underwood Reporting Award is offered by the Department of Journalism at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Underwood's archives are held in Special Collections and Archives at CSUN's University Library.