Mai Raud-Pähn
Mai Hinge Raud-Pähn (2 November 1920 – 23 April 2024) was an Estonian-Swedish art historian, editor, and journalist. She edited the Swedish-Estonian magazine Rahvuslik Kontakt from 1987 to 2014. For her important work in history and art, she received Estonia’s Order of the White Star, Medal Class.
She was born in Pärnu, Estonia. Her father Märt Raud was a writer and school counselor, and her mother Anna Raud was one of Estonia’s first female teachers. She attended school in Viljandi and in Pärnu. After graduating from the Stockholm School of Applied Arts, she worked as a teacher in Stockholm and Visby. In 1940, because of World War II, her family moved to Germany and later returned to Sweden via Denmark.
From 1957 to 1964 she studied art history at Stockholm University, also taking archaeology and ethnography courses. In 1972 she earned a licentiate degree; her thesis studied a Tallinn silversmith who worked between 1474 and 1659.
She was editor-in-chief of Rahvuslik Kontakt for many years (1987–2014). She was active in the Swedish Association of Estonians and in the Estonian National Museum’s Friends’ Association, and wrote many articles on art history and language courses.
She turned 100 in 2020 and died on 23 April 2024 at the age of 103. In addition to the Order of the White Star (Medal Class) in 2001, she received the Swedish National Association of Culture award in 2006 for her significant contributions to history and art.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:46 (CET).