The Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award is an American literary prize given in Oklahoma's second-largest city by the Tulsa Library Trust. It is bestowed annually upon an "internationally acclaimed" author who has "written a distinguished body of work and made a major contribution to the field of literature and letters".
First given in 1985, with a cash prize of $5,000, the 2009 award consists of a $40,000 cash prize and an engraved cry...
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The Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award is an American literary prize given in Oklahoma's second-largest city by the Tulsa Library Trust. It is bestowed annually upon an "internationally acclaimed" author who has "written a distinguished body of work and made a major contribution to the field of literature and letters".
First given in 1985, with a cash prize of $5,000, the 2009 award consists of a $40,000 cash prize and an engraved crystal book. To date, all of the recipients have been English-language writers.
The award is named after Peggy V. Helmerich, a prominent Tulsa library activist, philanthropist and the wife of Tulsa oilman Walter Helmerich III. Before her marriage, under the stage name Peggy Dow, she had been a motion picture actress, best known for playing the role of Nurse Kelly in the 1950 James Stewart film vehicle, Harvey and for co-starring with Best Actor Oscar nominee Arthur Kennedy in 1951's Bright Victory.
The first honoree was writer and longtime...
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