John Burroughs Papers
Primarily writings by and photographs of naturalist and philosopher John Burroughs and his family and friends.
Biographical / Historical Note
John Burroughs was born on April 3, 1837 on his family's farm in Roxbury, New York. As a child he spent much of his time reading, writing, and working on the farm. He attended the Hedding Literary Institute and the Cooperstown Seminary before leaving...
MoreJohn Burroughs was born on April 3, 1837 on his family's farm in Roxbury, New York. As a child he spent much of his time reading, writing, and working on the farm. He attended the Hedding Literary Institute and the Cooperstown Seminary before leaving home to become a teacher. Burroughs began keeping journals in 1854 when he was seventeen. His first published essay was "Fragments from the Table of an Intellectual Epicure" in 1860 and his first significant published piece was "Expression" in the Atlantic Monthly that same year.
Burroughs married Ursula North in 1857. Soon after, the couple moved to Washington, D.C. where Burroughs worked for the U.S. Treasury. In 1871 he took a position as a bank examiner in New York and built his home Riverby on a vineyard in West Park. In 1881 he constructed his Bark Study just off the main house, a retreat where he added to his growing body of essays and other work. By 1885 he gave up his bank position to write and enjoy his environment. Later, Burroughs would divide his time between Slabsides, his summer retreat at West Park and Woodchuck Lodge in Roxbury. Burroughs essays ranged from studies of birds and nature to religion and literature and his work was enjoyed by scholars and laypeople alike. Publishing widely, Burroughs became well known and received numerous awards and honorary degrees. He and his wife had one adopted son, Julius.
LessScope and Content Note
The papers are comprised of four series. The Education Related Material series, 1854- 1901 (0.2 cubic ft.) contains a teaching certificate, two school catalogs, a letter of recommendation, and a set of thank you letters. The letters were sent from...
MoreThe papers are comprised of four series. The Education Related Material series, 1854- 1901 (0.2 cubic ft.) contains a teaching certificate, two school catalogs, a letter of recommendation, and a set of thank you letters. The letters were sent from a class of children for whom Burroughs had led a nature walk. The Writings series, 1856-1907 and undated (0.2 cubic ft.) holds several handwritten manuscripts, a poem, an account book, and three periodicals that have articles written by Burroughs. There is also a unique wildflower album with a bark cover created by Burroughs in 1898. Burroughs creativity is also documented in two volumes of artwork, design layout, proofs and type repros for the limited edition book, In Nature's Laboratory, which records the camping trip in 1916 of Burroughs, Edison, and Firestone. The Photographs series, 1882-1915 and undated (2.0 cubic ft.) includes a two volume Souvenir of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, 1899; an album of cartes de visite portraits of friends and family; a set of thirty-seven glass plate negatives (images taken by Burroughs son, Julius); and a subseries of snapshots and photographs of Burroughs with friends, family, visitors and his homes and travels. A Miscellaneous series, 1896-1909 (0.2 cubic ft.) is comprised of a handprint of John Burroughs and several pages from a scrapbook. Researchers should note that handwritten notes describing some of the material were made by the donor, Elizabeth Burroughs Kelley, granddaughter of John Burroughs.
LessCollection Details
Object ID: 93.205.0
Creator: Burroughs, John, 1837-1921
Inclusive Dates: 1854-1915
Size: 3.6 cubic ft.
Language: English
Collection Access & Use
Item Location: Benson Ford Research Center
Access Restrictions: The papers are open for research.
Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Digitized Artifacts From This Collection
In many cases, not all artifacts have been digitized.
Contact us for more information about this collection.
John Burroughs and Granddaughter Elizabeth Burroughs, 1907-1908
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1907-1908
Summary
John Burroughs, the internationally known naturalist and writer, delighted in his grandchildren. Elizabeth, Ursula and John Burroughs II, were the children of John's only child, Julian. Burroughs visited his grandchildren often and filled his journals with tales of their adventures together. In this photograph, Burroughs poses with his oldest grandchild, Elizabeth.
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
2007.0.7.73
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
John Burroughs and Granddaughter Elizabeth Burroughs, 1907-1908
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Ursula and John Burroughs with Others, at the Grand Canyon, 1911
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1911
Summary
John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an internationally known naturalist and writer. Though he loved the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York -- where he grew up and where he had a house and several writing retreats -- Burroughs travelled widely. During his lifetime, Burroughs traveled to England, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and much of the United States. This photo shows him with family and friends at the Grand Canyon.
Creators
Keywords
United States, Arizona, Grand Canyon
Burroughs, Ursula North, 1836-1917
Object ID
93.205.19
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
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Ursula and John Burroughs with Others, at the Grand Canyon, 1911
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John Burroughs inside Slabsides, circa 1915
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1915
Summary
John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an internationally known naturalist and writer whose nature essays were well-received in both literary and scientific circles. From his home in the Catskills of upstate New York, Burroughs wrote mostly about accessible and familiar landscapes. After 1895, he did much of his writing at Slabsides, a rustic retreat he built a mile from his home.
Keywords
Object ID
00.1764.5
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
John Burroughs inside Slabsides, circa 1915
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Clara Barrus' Cottage at Riverby, "The Nest," circa 1915
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1915
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
2010.0.35.7
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Clara Barrus' Cottage at Riverby, "The Nest," circa 1915
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
John Burroughs Sitting at the Fireplace at Woodchuck Lodge, 1918
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
28 September 1918
Summary
John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an internationally known naturalist and essayist who wrote about accessible and familiar landscapes. In 1913, with financial assistance from Henry Ford, Burroughs purchased the house built by his brother Curtis on land near Burroughs's birthplace in Roxbury, New York. Woodchuck Lodge, as Burroughs referred to it, became his summer retreat and its natural surroundings became the subject of his creative works.
Creators
Object ID
00.1764.7
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
John Burroughs Sitting at the Fireplace at Woodchuck Lodge, 1918
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John Burroughs on the Porch of Woodchuck Lodge, Roxbury, New York, 1918
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
29 September 1918
Summary
John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an internationally known naturalist and essayist who wrote about accessible and familiar landscapes. In 1913, with financial assistance from Henry Ford, Burroughs purchased the house built by his brother Curtis on land near Burroughs's birthplace in Roxbury, New York. Woodchuck Lodge, as Burroughs referred to it, became his summer retreat and its natural surroundings became the subject of his creative works.
Creators
Object ID
00.1764.9
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
John Burroughs on the Porch of Woodchuck Lodge, Roxbury, New York, 1918
What is The Henry Ford?
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John Burroughs on His 82nd Birthday, Yama Farms, New York, April 3, 1919
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
03 April 1919
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
2010.0.35.14
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
John Burroughs on His 82nd Birthday, Yama Farms, New York, April 3, 1919
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
John Burroughs Sitting in Black Creek Swamp, West Park, New York, 1900
Artifact
Negative (Photograph)
Date Made
1900
Summary
John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an internationally known naturalist and writer whose nature essays were well-received in both literary and scientific circles. From his home in the Catskills of upstate New York, Burroughs wrote mostly about what could be found in accessible and familiar landscapes. He wanted his readers to appreciate the natural world that surrounded them.
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
93.205.73
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
John Burroughs Sitting in Black Creek Swamp, West Park, New York, 1900
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
John Burroughs Putting up a Bluebird House at Riverby, 1902
Artifact
Negative (Photograph)
Date Made
1902
Summary
John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an internationally known naturalist and essayist who wrote about accessible and familiar landscapes. In 1873, Burroughs bought a plot of land overlooking the Hudson in the Catskills of upstate New York and named it Riverby. Here, he farmed and cultivated grapes and fruit trees. He also erected a family home and built secluded retreats where he penned some of his most famous works.
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
93.205.79
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
John Burroughs Putting up a Bluebird House at Riverby, 1902
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
