William Levi Crawford
A pioneer in the science fiction literary world was born in Trafford, Pennsylvania. William Levi Crawford (1911-1984) earned international recognition in the publishing of fantasy and science fiction literature. So, why do most people from Trafford not know his name? Truth be told, his ties to Trafford were brief. His parents, John Frederick Crawford and Cora Rinard, were married in Everett, PA, in 1910. His father likely came to Trafford to work as a laborer in the rail yards for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
On September 10, 1911, Dr. D.O. Todd delivered baby William, but it is unclear how long the family stayed in the area. Tragically, William’s mother, Cora, passed away when he was just 3 years old. His grandparents helped raise him in Everett (Bedford County), where he spent most of his youth, graduating from Everett High School in 1932.
William “Bill” Crawford significantly shaped the early science fiction literary field through his pioneering efforts as an editor and publisher. By founding and running early magazines like "Unusual Stories" and "Marvel Tales," Crawford provided a platform for new and emerging voices in the genre. He also launched some of the first small press science fiction books, breaking new ground in publishing during his time. He started Fantasy Publishing Company Inc. in 1946, turning out about 50 hardcover titles and three different magazines. His extensive list of credits is too lengthy to include here, but you can find them on websites like the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
His passion and innovative approach helped lay the foundation for modern science fiction literature. He was well-connected with several famous individuals in the genre, including Forrest Ackerman, a magazine editor and writer, and authors like Ray Bradbury and L. Ron Hubbard.
Every year, the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts presents an award to an outstanding author who has published their first fantasy book. This honor is named the "IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award." As this award continues to be presented, recipients will likely seek to learn more about its namesake and discover a small but fascinating detail in Crawford’s biography: he was born in Trafford, PA, the center of the Cosmic Geoids galaxy.
This photo of William Levi Crawford, sourced from an unidentified periodical, has been carefully enhanced and colorized for posterity.
The photo here of William Crawford was shared on Fancyclopedia3 (by Ron Hansen). Our website colorized and featured the photo on the book cover as a tribute to Mr. Crawford. Since Trafford is the center of the galaxy for some of us, why not make it the center of the Cosmic Geoids galaxy too?
