Native American Authors

Lynn Riggs, 1899-1954

Cherokee

(Rolla) Lynn Riggs was born in the Verdigris Valley south of Claremore in the Indian territory. In 1917, Riggs graduated from the Eastern University Preparatory School in Claremore. Riggs then moved to California where his interest turned to plays. He was a speech major at the University of Oklahoma. He later moved to New York where he became very involved in Broadway. The Rodgers & Hammerstein play “Oklahoma!” was based on Riggs’ play “Green Grow the Lilacs.” Riggs is regarded one of the foremost Native American playwrights.

Awards and Honors

Gugggenheim Fellowship, 1927

Online resources by or about Lynn Riggs:

The Lynn Riggs Memorial
Author: Gary Cundiff
Type: authorbio
Description: Includes links to biographical and bibliographical information about Riggs, and photos of the playwright.

URL:

Lynn Riggs’ Papers – Yale University
Author: Yale University
Type: etext
Description: Archival collection of the personal writings and papers of Native American playwright Lynn Riggs, housed at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University.

URL: http://webtext.library.yale.edu/xml2html/beinecke.riggs.nav.html

Books by Lynn Riggs:

Riggs, Lynn. Big Lake: A Tragedy in Two Parts
New York : Samuel French, 1927.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult

Riggs, Lynn. The Cherokee Night
New York, NY : Samuel French, 1930.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult

Riggs, Lynn. Green Grow the Lilacs : a play
New York : S. French, 1931.
Genre: Drama
Audience: All Ages

Riggs, Lynn. Hang on to Love
New York, NY : Samuel French, 1948.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult

Riggs, Lynn. Haunted by Home: The Life and Letters of Lynn Riggs
Norman, OK : University of Oklahoma Press, 1988.
Genre: Autobiography
Language: English
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 978-0806135106

Riggs, Lynn. The Iron Dish
Garden City, NY : Doubleday, 1930.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult

Riggs, Lynn. Listen, Mind
Los Angeles, CA : Ward Ritchie, 1933.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult

Riggs, Lynn. Roadside: a Comedy
New York : Samuel French, 1930.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult

Riggs, Lynn. Russet Mantle
New York, NY : Samuel French, 1936.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult

Riggs, Lynn. Sump’n Like Wings and a Lantern to See By: Two Oklahoma Plays
New York : Samuel French, 1928.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult

Riggs, Lynn. The Theatre Guild presents Oklahoma! : A musical play based on the play “Green grow the lilacs” (Playbill for the St. James Theatre)
New York : Theatre Guild, 1943.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: All Ages

Riggs, Lynn. This Book, This Hill, These People: Poems
Tulsa, OK : Lynn Chase Publishing, 1982.
Genre: Poetry
Language: English
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 978-9992557402

Riggs, Lynn. Toward the Western Sky
Cleveland, OH : Western Reserve Press, 1951.
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Audience: Adult