Bernice Wiggins - El Paso, Texas

Bernice Love Wiggins was a poet during the Harlem Renaissance. Because of the death of her mother when she was five years old, she came to El Paso in 1903 to live with her aunt. Bernice attended Douglass High School and was encouraged by her teachers to pursue her writing. She died in 1936. Her self-published book "Tuneful Tales", was first published in 1925. The second printing in 2002 was very well recognized.

Image Description:In this photo a woman is standing in the center of the photograph on wooden steps in the front of a brick structure. She is wearing a light colored dress and black shoes while standing in front of a house. She is wearing a necklace and is giving the camera a gentle smile.

Area: Central / Chamizal

Source: C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library. Collection Name: Leona Washington Photograph Collection. Photo ID: PH033-1-35-4--BerniceWiggins.jpg.

Uploaded by: UTEP Library Special Collections