Riggs, Mrs. Kate Douglas Wiggin

Mrs. Kate Douglas Wiggin (1857-), an American author. Her maiden name was Kate Douglas Smith. She was born in Philadelphia and received her education at Abbot Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. She early showed strong sympathy with children. It was through her efforts that free kindergartens for the poor were established on the Pacific Coast. In 1880 she was married to A. B. Wiggin, a lawyer (died 1889), and moved to New York. Much of her writing has been either for or about children. Her reputation as a writer was won by The Birds' Christmas Carol, a story of mingled humor and pathon. Other stories are Timothy's Quest, The Story of Patsy, Polly Oliver's Problem, Penelope's Progress, and Rebecca of Sunny-brook Farm. In collaboration with her sister, Nora Smith, she has written The Story Hour, a collection of short stories, and Golden Numbers, a collection of poems for children. In 1895 Mrs. Wiggin married George C. Riggs, but she still writes under the name of Kate Douglas Wiggin.