Robert Burch
Robert Burch was an American author born on June 26, 1925, in Inman, Georgia. Growing up in a rural setting with seven siblings, Burch initially envisioned a future as a farmer. His writing career began later in life, catalyzed by his experiences serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and subsequent education, where he earned a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Georgia. After some years in clerical roles, he moved to New York City, where he pursued writing by taking classes at Hunter College and New York University.
Burch focused on crafting children's literature, particularly stories that reflect the domestic life of children during the Great Depression in rural Georgia. Through his work, he aimed to provide young readers with insights into that era, emphasizing themes of resilience and the value of experiences over material wealth. Over his career, he received several accolades, including a fellowship in juvenile literature and multiple awards recognizing his contributions to children's literature. Burch's storytelling offers a unique perspective on a significant historical period, making his work relevant for both children and adults interested in history and literature.
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Subject Terms
Robert Burch
Children's Writer
- Born: June 26, 1925
- Birthplace: Inman, Georgia
- Died: December 25, 2007
- Place of death: Fayetteville, Georgia
Biography
Robert Burch was born June 26, 1925, in Inman, Georgia, son of John Ambrose Burch, a bookkeeper, and his wife Nell. He grew up in rural Georgia with seven siblings and many farm animals as pets. As a child, Burch thought he would grow up to be a farmer; he did not start writing until he was thirty.
He served in the U.S. Army after high school for the last half of World War II. After the war, he earned a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Georgia. He spent a year working in a greenhouse, and then did clerical work for the Atlanta Ordnance Department, from 1951 to 1953. This led to similar duty with the U.S. Army that took him to Yokohama and Tokyo, Japan, from 1953 to 1955. When he returned from overseas, he settled in New York City, where he became a clerical worker.
He took writing classes at Hunter College and at New York University, and began writing and publishing children’s picture books. By 1963, he had begun to write for slightly older children about the domestic life of children during the Great Depression in rural Georgia. He explained that through his stories “I hope to give boys and girls of today a glimpse of what it was like to have lived during the Depression years, when almost everyone was poor. At the same time, I try to show that we sometimes had ourselves a pretty good time back then and that there are lots of things more important than money or material wealth.”
Burch won a fellowship in juvenile literature from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, 1960; a children’s book award from the Child Study Association of America and a Jane Addams Book Award, both in 1967; and a Phoenix Award in 1986 for Queenie Peavy.