The Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award is given by the Tulsa Library Trust and Tulsa City-County Library. Its purpose is to give formal recognition, on behalf of the Tulsa County community, to acclaimed authors who have written a distinguished body of work and made a major contribution to the field of literature and letters. Alongside the recognition, the honoree receives a $40,000 cash prize and an engraved crystal book.
Due to illness, Elizabeth Strout was unable to accept the 2022 Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award, so there was no honoree for 2022. However, Ann Patchett, 2014 Helmerich Award winner, graciously agreed to step in as the featured speaker for the Distinguished Author Series.
