Frances Turgeon Wiggin


Frances Turgeon Wiggin was an American author and composer who is best remembered for writing the state song of Maine 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, where she received a B.A., and in 1952, an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Her teachers included Anne Neily, Elizabeth Quaille, and Helen Winslow. She composed the music for a William Smith College school song, "Charter Class Waltz." She married Daniel W. Wiggin and they had a daughter, Barbara, in 1922. A few years later, she wrote the words and music to "The State of Maine."
Wiggin wrote five books about composers from the state of Maine:
  • Directory of Maine Composers
  • Biographical Dictionary of Maine Composers
  • Thumbnail Sketches of Maine Composers
  • Maine Composers and Their Music
  • Maine Composers and Their Music, Book 2
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 Club of Portland, 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.
Wiggins' papers are archived at William Smith College. Her compositions include:

Chamber

  • ''Three Dances''

Piano

  • ''Gigue in E''

Vocal

  • "Applecumjockaby"
  • Bonum Omen
  • Children's Songs
  • Five Encore Songs
  • "Horseman"
  • "House of Dreams"
  • "I've Never Been to Winkle"
  • Little Hand of Pioneers
  • "Love"
  • "Manus Dei"
  • "Pierrot at Fifty"
  • "Queen Anne's Lace"
  • "Red Geraniums"
  • "Someone"
  • "Tartary"
  • "Who Loves the Rain?"