Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Robert A. Wiggins Papers
- Dates:
- 1950-1989
- Creators:
- Wiggins, Robert A.
- Abstract:
- The Robert A. Wiggins Papers document Wiggins' activities from 1950-1989 as a UC Davis professor of English and creative writing.
- Extent:
- 5 linear feet
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], D-301, Robert A. Wiggins Papers, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection contains material from 1950-1989 that includes departmental correspondence, minutes, meeting notes, manuscripts, book reviews, class rosters, lecture notes, and curriculum development materials.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Robert Alonzo Wiggins was born on February 8, 1921 in Columbus, Georgia to Alva Lee and Ruby L. (Snell) Wiggins. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD in 1942, followed by his Master of Arts degree in 1949 and PhD in 1953, both from University of California, Berkeley. During World War II, he served as a captain in the U.S. 89th Division of the Third Army Infantry in Europe and in 1945 he crossed the Rhine River in Germany while under fire. He also served as part of the Public Relations staff under General Mark Clarke in Vienna during his service. Wiggins’ career started in 1950 at University of California, Davis where he would go on to teach creative writing for almost 40 years. He joined the English department in 1950, was promoted to associate professor in 1960, and became a full professor in 1965. His leadership roles at UC Davis were numerous, including Associate Dean of the College of Letters and Science from 1963-1964, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs from 1964-1966, Chair of the English Department from 1966-1970, and Chair of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate from 1971-1972. Additionally, he was acting chair of the English Department from 1959-1960, and vice chairman in 1962. Wiggins served several times as chair of the annual campus literary contest and advisor to Theta Xi, a campus social fraternity, and advisor to “Motley,” a campus literary magazine published by students. In 1971, Wiggins defended tenure at the University in the face of attacks on universities across the country against academic freedom. Wiggins also served on multiple committees at the University including the Committee on Committees of the Academic Senate, the President's Committee for Selection of Chancellor, the Campus Planning Committee, the Graduate Council and its Executive Committee, and the Special Committee on Reorganization of the College of Letters and Science. His classes specialized in American literature and related topics. Wiggins was also the master English major advisor when the English program became the largest academic program on campus. He was also coordinator and earned the Distinguished Advising Award in 1983. Wiggins’ published works include an introduction to the French edition of L’Exile by Pearl Buck, and his books Mark Twain: Jackleg Novelist (1964), and Ambrose Bierce (1964). He also had short stories published in the Four Quarters, the Husk, and the Carolina Quarterly. He published biographical articles in American Quarterly titled “The Field Notes of Captain William Clark, 1803-1805” and “Nathalia Wright, Horatio Greenough: The First American Sculptor.” Robert Wiggins died on September 23, 1989. References California Aggie. “Wiggins Rates Tenures as “Indispensable”. 11 February 1971. California Aggie. “Five Artists Explore Art”. 26 April, 1962. California Aggie. “Robert Wiggins Dies”. 28 September 1989. “University of California: In Memoriam, 1989” "Robert A. Wiggins." Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors, Gale, 2002. Gale In Context: Biography, link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1000106042/BIC?u=csus_main&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=2eb72a65. Accessed 11 Oct. 2023. University of California: In Memoriam, 1989.” "Robert A. Wiggins." Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors, Gale, 2002. Gale In Context: Biography.
- Processing information:
-
The biography was written by Sacramento State Public History graduate student Katie Buesch. This finding aid was updated by Michelle Trujillo in 2026.
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S Copyright Code. Requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], D-301, Robert A. Wiggins Papers, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library100 NW QuadDavis, CA 95616-5292, US
- Contact:
- (530) 752-1621