Robert Billigmeier Collection

Robert Henry Billigmeier was a UCSB professor of sociology and author who lived in Santa Barbara. His areas of specialization were demographics, social movements and European and American ethnic groups. In Santa Barbara, Billigmeier worked for family planning, fair housing and international cooperation.

He was the foreign student advisor at UCSB from 1955 to 1963 and was one of the founders of the University of California Education Abroad Program, serving as associated director from 1964 to 1976.

Billigmeier also wrote books about Swiss immigrants to America, German Americans and the Romansh minority of Switzerland, in addition to a number of other scholarly and literary contributions. His book on the Romansh, who live in parts of Switzerland and Italy, is considered by many scholars to be the definitive work on the subject. During visits to Switzerland, he was involved in community organizations for the preservation of the Romansh culture.
(from the Santa Barbara News Press)

The preliminary guide to The Robert Billigmeier Collection is available on site at Special Collections or upon request.