John Burroughs papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

This collection is minimally processed and open for research.

Preferred citation:

MSS 6179, John Burroughs papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Summary

Extent:
0.0405 Cubic Feet 1 volume in custom housing
Creator:
Burroughs, John, 1837-1921
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 6179, John Burroughs papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the original handwritten manuscript of John Burroughs' essay "The Poet and the Modern." The collection is nine pages with numerous revision and corrections in Burroughs' hand and annotations in an unidentified editorial hand. It is bound by Grabau Binder in dark green morocco with gilt designs. Original pictorial title page signed "C.G. Mankell -- 06" and three mounted photographs, one of Burroughs and the other two of scenes at Burroughs' Roxbury, New York, home. The mounted manuscript is followed by four pages of the printed version, mounted on additional leaves, as it was published in the Atlantic monthly.

Biographical / historical:

John Burroughs (April 3, 1837 – March 29, 1921) was an American naturalist and essayist whose literary contributions helped shape public appreciation for the natural world during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born in Roxbury, New York, in the Catskill Mountains, Burroughs developed an early affinity for the rural landscapes that would later become central to his writings. Though his formal education was limited, he pursued teaching and clerical work before establishing himself as a writer and public intellectual.

Burroughs published his first major collection of nature essays, Wake-Robin, in 1871, initiating a career that spanned more than five decades and produced over twenty volumes. His work is distinguished by its lyrical prose, observational precision, and philosophical engagement with the natural environment. While often associated with the transcendentalist tradition, Burroughs maintained a distinctive voice that emphasized direct experience and accessible reflection over abstraction. His essays explored themes such as bird life, seasonal change, and the moral dimensions of nature, contributing to a growing national interest in conservation and environmental stewardship.

Throughout his life, Burroughs maintained relationships with several influential figures, including Walt Whitman, Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford, and John Muir. He traveled extensively and was frequently accompanied by these individuals on excursions that blended scientific inquiry with public advocacy. His residences, particularly his Hudson Valley home and his retreat known as Slabsides, became centers for literary and environmental discourse.

Burroughs's legacy is preserved through the continued publication of his essays and the work of the John Burroughs Association, which promotes excellence in nature writing. His contributions to American letters and the conservation movement remain foundational, offering insight into the cultural and ecological values of his era.

Acquisition information:
This collection was purchased from Brick Row Book Shop by the Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia on 16 October 2019.
Physical description:
good
Dimensions:
10 X 7 X 1 inches
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
authors