Collection of Kate Douglas Wiggin Materials

Collection

Identifier: WIGGIN-1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, and first publications of the writer Kate Douglas Wiggin. The bulk of the collection consists of letters written by Wiggin to various correspondents between 1890 and 1922. The collection also contains manuscript items of varying length, clippings, published writings, and a few photographic prints.

Dates

1893 - 1917

Creator

Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith, 1856-1923 (Author, Person)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials to be used on site during regular Special Collections hours or by appointment. Photocopying or scanning may be possible at discretion of staff for nominal fee. Materials may be protected by copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Wiggin was a celebrated author of children's literature and an advocate of early childhood education. Born in Philadelphia, she later moved to Hollis, Maine. As a teacher she established the first free kindergarten for impoverished children in San Francisco, and later set up a professional school to train teachers in children's education, co-authoring several books and guides on the subject. To support the school she turned to writing children's literature, achieving popular success with "The Store of Patsy" (1883), "The Birds' Christmas Carol" (1887), and "The Diary of a Goose Girl" (1902), followed by two of her most famous works, "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" (1903) and "Rose o' the River" (1905).