Frances Turgeon Wiggin

Frances Turgeon Wiggin[1] (4 October 1891 – 1985) was an American author and composer[2] who is best remembered for writing the state song of Maine[3] and publishing five books about Maine composers.

Wiggin was born in Lewiston, Maine. She studied at Bates, Seneca, and New York colleges, and was a member of William Smith College's charter class (1912), where she received a B.A., and in 1952, an honorary doctorate of humane letters.[4] Her teachers included Anne Neily, Elizabeth Quaille, and Helen Winslow.[5] She composed the music for a William Smith College school song, "Charter Class Waltz."[6] She married Daniel W. Wiggin[7] and they had a daughter, Barbara, in 1922.[8] A few years later, she wrote the words and music to "The State of Maine."[9]

Wiggin wrote five books about composers from the state of Maine:

  • Directory of Maine Composers (1946)[5]
  • Biographical Dictionary of Maine Composers (1958)[5]
  • Thumbnail Sketches of Maine Composers (with Helen J. Dubbs; 1958)[5]
  • Maine Composers and Their Music (1959)[10]
  • Maine Composers and Their Music, Book 2 (1976)[5]

Wiggin was a board member of the Maine Federation of Music Clubs for 50 years, and chaired its Committee for Maine Composers and Their Music for 25 years. She belonged to the Kotzschmar (Organ) Club of Portland (Maine),[11] and was an honorary life member of the Maine Historical Society, the Portland Rossini Club, and the Portland MacDowell Club. In 1976 she received an award from the Maine Historical Society for her contributions to music in Maine.[4]

Wiggins' papers are archived at William Smith College.[12] Her compositions include:

Chamber
  • Three Dances (violin, viola, and piano)[5]

Piano

Vocal
  • "Applecumjockaby"[5]
  • Bonum Omen (choir)[5]
  • Children's Songs (text by Rosetti)[5]
  • Five Encore Songs (text by Rosetti)[5]
  • "Horseman"[5]
  • "House of Dreams"[5]
  • "I've Never Been to Winkle" (text by Vilda Owens)[5]
  • Little Hand of Pioneers (choir)[5]
  • "Love" (text by Charlotte Michaud)[5]
  • "Manus Dei" (text by Marguerite Emerson)[13]
  • "Pierrot at Fifty" (text by Garrison)[5]
  • "Queen Anne's Lace" (text by Mary Newton)[5]
  • "Red Geraniums" (text by Elizabeth Dillingham)[5]
  • "Someone"[5]
  • "Tartary"[5]
  • "Who Loves the Rain?"[5]

References
  1. Hixon, Donald L. (1993). Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography. Don A. Hennessee (2nd ed.). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-2769-7. OCLC 28889156.
  2. Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers : a handbook. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1138-3. OCLC 3844725.
  3. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1930.
  4. "Collection: Frances Turgeon Wiggin papers, 1911-1985 | Hobart and William Smith Colleges Archives and Special Collections". archivesspace.hws.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  5. Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers (Second edition, revised and enlarged ed.). New York. ISBN 0-9617485-2-4. OCLC 16714846.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. "William Smith Centennial :: The Pulteney Street Survey : Dormitories on the Hill". www.hws.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  7. Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1960). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1959: July-December. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
  8. admin (2016-01-11). "Barbara Gent Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  9. "'State of Maine' song, ca. 1930". Maine Memory Network. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  10. Writings on American History. KTO Press. 1959.
  11. "Wiggin, Frances Turgeon, 1891-1985. Frances Turgeon Wiggin papers, 1891-1985. - View Resource - Social Networks and Archival Context". snaccooperative.org. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  12. McEldowney, Tricia. "Warren Hunting Smith Library: Archival Collections: William Smith College". library.hws.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  13. Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1964). Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.
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