Donegan Reeder Wiggins papers
Scope and Contents
Collection consists of personal and professional correspondence, manuscript drafts, and legal papers related to columnist and firearms expert Donegan Reeder Wiggins, dating from approximately 1906-1950. The bulk of the collection consists of D. R. Wiggins’ work as a firearms consultant for Adventure Magazine, and focuses on topics related to firearms, ballistics, famous gunfights, and the history of the American West. This includes correspondence with magazine publishers, weapons manufacturers, historians, friends, and family. In addition, the collection includes drafts of Wiggins' short stories, poems, and manuscripts written for “Adventure Magazine” and other publications. Also included are genealogical materials and a history of D. R. Wiggins and the Wiggins family that was compiled and written by Ernest E. Baker between 1951 and 1952.
Other papers in this collection are related to Duncan S. Donegan, D. R. Wiggins' maternal grandfather, and date from approximately 1839-1881. These include drafts of his sermons, correspondence, legal documents, and legislative papers relating to Donegan’s time in the Missouri state legislature between 1869 and 1870.
Dates
- 1839-1952
Creator
- Wiggins, Donegan Reeder, 1888-1950 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Biographical note
Donegan Reeder Wiggins was born in Dodge City, Kansas on February 10, 1888. His parents were Henry Gilbert Wiggins (1859-1932) and Nancy Elizabeth (Lizzy) Donegan Wiggins (1859-1920). In 1913, the Wiggins family moved to Salem, Oregon. There, Wiggins and his father operated the Salem Heights Grocery. In 1927, Wiggins went to work for the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. Wiggins was also a firearms and ballistics expert. During World War I, he served as an armorer with a machine gun battalion of the U.S. Army. After the war, he performed as a trick shooter, assisted the Oregon State Police with servicing firearms, and testified in court cases as a ballistics expert. Wiggins also worked as a firearms consultant and editor for Adventure Magazine for 30 years. He regularly wrote short stories, poetry, and nonfiction articles on firearms, ballistics, famous gunfights, and the history of the American West for Adventure Magazine and several other publications.
Sources: “D. R. Wiggins, Arms Authority Dies in Salem,” Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon), July 26, 1950; biographical information in the collection, titled “The Don Wiggins Story,” by Ernest E. Baker.
Extent
3.45 Cubic Feet (3 record cartons)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection consists of personal and professional correspondence, manuscript drafts, and legal papers related to columnist and firearms expert Donegan Reeder Wiggins, dating from approximately 1906-1950. Also included are sermons, correspondence, and legislative papers relating to Duncan S. Donegan, maternal grandfather of Donegan Reeder Wiggins, which date from approximately 1839-1881.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transfer from the Oregon State Library, February 1961 (Lib. Acc. 9259).
Separated Materials
Photograph materials donated with this collection were separated to the Wiggins photographs, Org. Lot 19, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Creator
- Wiggins, Donegan Reeder, 1888-1950 (Person)
- Baker, Ernest E. (Compiler, Person)
- Donegan, Duncan S., 1831-1911 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Donegan Reeder Wiggins papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- Laura Cray
- Date
- 2012; revised 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2023: Revised to include more detailed biographical and scope and content notes.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org