The Raven Award is an award given annually by the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) as part of the Edgar Awards. The Raven Award is given from time to time to non-writers and institutions who have made significant professional contributions to the mystery genre or to MWA. The Board may choose not to award a Raven in any given year.
The first one was presented in 1953. It's not always bestowed every year like the Best Novel or Best Short Story category. Some years feature multiple honorees, while others have none. Though, there was a winner since 1995 up to and including 2022.
Winners +Raven Award winnersYearRecipientTypeLinkRef1953E. T. Guymon Jrlibrarian of mystery literature1954Dr. Thomas A. Gonzalesmedical examiner, NYCTom Lehrermystery parody writerDr. Harrison Martlandmedical examiner, Essex County, NJ1957Dorothy KilgallenReader of the Year1959Lawrence G. Blochmanservice to MWA and The Third DegreeFrederic G. Melchereditor of Publishers WeeklyFranklin Delano RooseveltReader of the Year1960Ray Brennanreporter of crimeDavid C. Cookpublisher of detective storiesAlfred Hitchcockdirector of mysteryGail Jacksonproducer, Perry MasonPhyllis McGinleyMystery Fan of the Year1961Ilka ChaseReader of the Year1962The Defenderstelevision show1965Dr. Milton Helpernforensic medicPhilip Wittenbergvolunteer1967Ellery Queen's Mystery MagazinemagazineRichard Watts Jr.Reader of the Year1968Joey AdamsReader of the Year1971Judith CristReader of the Year1975World Wide Mystery (ABC)seriesRoyal Shakespeare Companytheater companyRadio Mystery Theatre (CBS): the Hy Brown nightly mysteriesradio program1976Eddie LawrenceReader of the YearLeo Margulieseditor, Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine1978Danny Arnoldexecutive producer, Barney Miller (ABC)Edward Goreyset designer, Dracula on BroadwayRichard N. Hughestelevision executive and editorialist, I Am My Brother's Keeper (WPIX)1979Alberto Tedeschipublisher of Italian series mystery (via Mondadori)1980The Muppet Show: Muppet Murders1983Isaac Bashevis SingerReader of the Year1984Sylvia PorterReader of the Year1985Eudora WeltyReader of the Year1986Suzi OppenheimerReader of the Year1988Angela LansburyactressVincent Priceactor1989Bouchercon Annual World Mystery Conventionconvention for mystery readers and writersMarilyn Abrams, Bruce Jordan for Shear Madness (Cranberry Productions)off-Broadway play1991Carol BrenerbooksellerSarah Booth ConroyReader of the Year1992Harold Q. Masurgeneral counsel to MWA1993President Bill ClintonReader of the Year1995Paul LeClercpresident, New York Public Library1996Library of Americanon-profit publisher, collected writings of Raymond Chandler1997Marvin Lachmanauthor1998Sylvia K. Burackeditor, The Writer Magazine1999Steven Bochcowriter and producer2000The Mercantile Library (Harold Augenbraum, director)library; NYC2001The Poisoned Pen (Barbara G. Peters, owner)bookstore; Scottsdale, AZThe Rue Morgue (Tom and Enid Schantz, owners)bookstore; Boulder, CO2002Charles Champlinfilm critic at LA TimesAnthony Mason (Sunday Morning's FINE PRINT)Douglas Smith (Sunday Morning's FINE PRINT)2003The Mysterious Bookshop (Otto Penzler, owner)bookstore; NYCBook Carnival (Pat & Ed Thomas, owners)bookstore; Orange, CAEdgar Allan Poe Museummuseum; Richmond, VA2004Ray and Pat Browne Library for Popular Culture Studies, Bowling Green Universitylibrary, collecting and preserving detective fiction; Bowling Green, OHVanity Fairmagazine, covering True Crime2005Cape Cod Radio Mystery Theatre (Steve Oney, founder)radio dramaDorothyL listserv (Diane Kovacs & Kara Robinson, co-founders)online digest websiteMurder by the Book (Martha Farrington, owner)bookstore; Houston, TX2006Black Orchid Bookshop (Bonnie Claeson & Joe Guglielmelli, owners)bookstore; NYCMen of Mystery Conference (Joan Hansen, founder)convention for readers and aspiring writers2007Books & Books Bookstore (Mitchell Kaplan, owner)bookstore; Coral Gables, FLMystery Loves Company Bookstore (Kathy & Tom Harig)bookstore; Baltimore, MD (founded 1991)2008Center for the Book in the Library of Congressstate center promoting literacy and readingKate's Mystery Books (Kate Mattes)bookstore; Cambridge, MA2009Edgar Allan Poe Societysociety for scholarly study of PoeEdgar Allan Poe Househistorical site; Baltimore, MD2010International Mystery Writers Festival (Zev Buffman)festival showcasing mystery plays, television, and filmMystery Lovers Bookshop (Richard Goldman, Mary Alice Gorman)bookstore; Oakmont, PA2011Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore (Augie Aleksy)bookstore; Forest Park, ILOnce Upon a Crime Bookstore (Pat Frovarp, Gary Shulze)bookstore; Minneapolis, MN2012M is for Mystery (Ed Kaufman)bookstore; San Mateo, CAMolly Westonblogger; Meritorious Mysteries (defunct)2013Oline Cogdillmystery columnist, South Florida Sun SentinelMysterious Galaxy Bookstorebookstore; San Diego, CA2014Aunt Agatha's Bookstorebookstore; Ann Arbor, MI2015Ruth & Jon Jordan: Crimespree MagazinemagazineMagna Cum Murder (Kathryn Kennison, founder or director)crime writing festival / conference2016Margaret Kinsmaneditor, Clues: A Journal of DetectionSisters in Crimecrime writing association2017Dru Ann Loveblogger, mystery books2018The Raven Book Storebookstore; Lawrence, KSBOLO Books (Kristopher Zgorski, admin/owner)blog website (centered around crime fiction)2019Marilyn Stasiomystery reviewer for The New York Times Book Review2020Left Coast Crimeannual mystery convention2021Malice Domesticannual fan convention2022Lesa Holstinecritic; reviewer for Library Journal2023Crime Writers of Color Noir Alley and The Film Noir Foundation2025Face In A Bookbookstore; El Dorado Hills, CA2026Book Passagebookstore; Corte Madera, CA
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