Melvin Gillison Rigg was the first grandchild of Thomas Townley Rigg and Miranda Gambrel Rigg. His parents were Melvin Gillison Rigg and Effie Elizabeth Moore who married on December 25, 1893. His father died from typhoid fever August 07, 1895, just two months before Melvin was born on October 20, 1895. His mother, Effie, married again to Robert Zepheniah Swegle on November 06, 1900. In the 1905 Madison County, Kansas Census it lists Robert Z. 63, Effie 37, and Melvin age 9. Melvin went on to achieve many educational distinctions. He held two doctorates as well as being a graduate of the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music. His memberships and contributions to many journals and societies were well known throughout his life. Melvin married Avis Baker and they were blessed with two children, Arthur and Betty. Melvin was also an author. He wrote 25 books ranging from Poetry to Music Theory to Literature and Psychology. Melavin was also an avid genealogy enthusiast. Numerous letters to many in the family showed how deeply interested and excited he was in his family heritage. "An experiment to determine how accurately college students can interpret the meanings of musical compositions" was carried out under the tutelage of Dr. Melvin Rigg in 1937. The entire fifteen minute intermission during an afternoon concert of the New York Philharmonic orchestra was devoted to "that most interesting experiment at Kenyon College." Some seventy students participated in the experiment." Melvin's wife, Avis, also held a Masters Degree in English. His children, Betty and Arthur, live in Texas. Melvin died in March of 1972.