Kennard Wiggins
Writer, Historian, Lecturer, Artist
Biography
I love writing history.
Here are my published books:
Histories of Newark Delaware, 1758-2008, Contributing Author Wallflower Press, 2007
Delaware Air National Guard, Arcadia Publishing, 2008
Delaware Army National Guard, Arcadia Publishing, 2010
Dover Air Force Base, Arcadia Publishing, 2011
Delaware Aviation, Arcadia Publishing, with Jan Churchill, 2014
Delaware in World War I, History Press, 2015
America's Anchor, A Naval History of the Delaware River and Bay, McFarland Publishing, 2019
Delaware Patriot Heroes: Robert Kirkwood and Peter Jaquett, History Press, 2024
The Air National Guard, The Early Years 1946-1965, Fonthill Media, 2024
Projects in the works.
I'm always either collecting new ideas or reviving old projects. I almost never get writers block, but am instead a bit restless and tend to hop from one idea to the next. Here are several works in progress.
How Light Warships Enabled US Expansion Around the Globe 1865-1945
America's Gunboat Navy
What began as a ship's history of the USS Wilmington has expanded isn scope to explore the role of gunboats in the nascent steel navy as it grew between the Civil War and the end of World War II. As the American economy expanded so did its might on the seas. While the big capital get most of the glory, the gunboats of the fleet were far more utile and economical performing a myriad of duties and acessing places all over the globe. I just got a contract offer from Pen and Sword (London) for this project which should be published in late 2027.
Delawareans at Their Best:
A comprehensive history of the Delaware National Guard
Two of my earliest projects were pictorial histories of the Delaware Army and Air National Guard. They were great projects on which to "cut my teeth", but the publisher's format required minimal text. After all the research I had done, I wanted to write a really complete history of this orgization to which I had dedicated decades of my life. The Delaware Heritage Commission has agreed to publish this book, but it is still in pre-production and I do not have a publication date to share at this writing, but hopefully sometime in 2026.
The American Revolution on the Delaware
The War of Independence on the Delaware River and Bay.
Many of the critical battles of the war of Independence took place in this area. Few are aware of the importance of naval activities during the revolution. My book explores these lesser-known activities during the war along the Delaware River and Bay. It includes explorations of the British invasion of the area and its route through Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania including the Battles of Brandywine and the Naval Struggle for Philadelphia, along with many sea actions along the Delaware estuary between British blockaders, American warships and Privateers. It will be released late this year by History Press.
I like to talk about history.
"I am a natural introvert who has managed to survive in an extroverted world."
I have given talks and lectures over many years on the books listed above, as well as other topics related to local military history, and culture. I've been to venues throughout the area including libraries, museums, and historical societies. I usually put together a Powerpoint slide deck with images, maps, and photos of my topic. Sometimes I bring a relevant artifact. If you need a speaker, please contact me at kennard.wiggins@gmail.com. You can review a partial list of my speaking topics here.
I enjoy drawing and painting.
"I used to think I was an artist. Now I think I am a writer."
I was originally trained as a fine artist and later worked as a designer, art director in the advertising industry for the first two decades of my professional life. I often illustrate some of the topics I am writing about. I sketch very frequently, especially when I travel and I have dozens of sketchbooks on my shelves dating back to college years.
Gallery: Paintings
Below is a sampling of recent paintings in acrylic.
Gallery: Watercolors
Below is a sample of my art in watercolor and colored pencil.
Gallery: Drawings
My favorite artform is keeping sketchbooks. I try to contribute regularly and I have dozens of them produced over a lifetime. The artwork below are drawings that are a bit more formal for display.
