Skip to main content

John Burroughs Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 0412

Content Description

First edition of "The Light of Day", signed copy of Burroughs' poem entitled "Waiting", and a letter from Dr. Clara Barrus, Burroughs' secretary and companion, addressed to Harriet.

Dates

  • 1900 - 1919

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Biographical / Historical

John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an American naturalist, a nature essayist, and was active in the conservation movement. He was a native of the Catskills mountains and grew up on his family's farm. He credited his time on the farm for inspiring his love of nature. In 1857, Burroughs married Ursula North. Burroughs worked as a federal bank examiner from the 1860s to 1880s while continually producing essays. In 1863, he met Walt Whitman and the two remained friends until Whitman's death. Burroughs wrote the first biography of Whitman. Burroughs was also friends with Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. In 1901, Burroughs received a fan letter from Dr. Clara Barrus and the two became friends. For the next two decades, until Burroughs' death in 1921, Barrus was his secretary and constant companion.

Extent

0.16 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from William Reese Company, New Haven, CT.

Condition Description

1 box (slip case with two compartments).

Offensive Language Statement

The UNC Greensboro University Libraries collects, preserves, and makes accessible unique and historical materials for learning and research. The nature of historical materials is such that some material may represent positions, norms, and values that are offensive and objectionable. These materials represent the opinions and actions of their creators. By providing access to these records in our reading room and through our digital collections, we recognize that archives and rare books can play a vital role in holding those creators accountable and in helping us learn from the past.

Our finding aids and other collection descriptions may occasionally re-use language provided by creators or former holders of the materials, but we strive to place outdated or offensive terminology in context. That said, we recognize that we may not always make the right decision and welcome feedback from all sources so we can learn and adjust our practices. Please contact us at scua@uncg.edu if you encounter problematic language in our finding aids or other collection description. We will review the language and, as appropriate, update it in a way that balances preservation of the original context with our ongoing commitment to describing materials with respectful and inclusive language.

Processing Information

Processed by Suzanne Sawyer, December 2021.

Title
John Burroughs Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Suzanne Sawyer
Date
December 2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
P.O. Box 26170
320 College Ave.
Greensboro NC 27402-6170 US
336-334-5246