Thornton W. Burgess
Thornton W. Burgess was an American author born on January 14, 1874, in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Growing up in a challenging environment after the death of his father, he developed a deep love for nature during his explorations of local wildlife. Despite financial struggles that prevented him from attending college, Burgess pursued writing, starting with poetry and advertisements, before joining Phelps Publishing Company, where he became involved in various editorial roles. His breakthrough came with the publication of his children's stories, particularly "Old Mother West Wind," which resonated with young audiences and emphasized themes of nature and wildlife conservation.
Burgess’s writing also included a significant moral component, aiming to instill compassion for animals and promote environmental awareness. He was an advocate for conservation, founding the Green Meadow Club to encourage kindness towards animals and support for wildlife sanctuaries. Over his prolific career, he authored more than fifteen thousand pieces, enjoying widespread popularity with his stories, which sold around eight million copies. Although his work faced some critique for its approach, his influence in promoting respect for nature and its inhabitants remains significant, highlighting the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the importance of conservation. Burgess passed away on June 5, 1965, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire environmental advocacy.
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Subject Terms
Thornton W. Burgess
- Born: January 14, 1874
- Birthplace: Sandwich, Massachusetts
- Died: June 5, 1965
- Place of death: Hampden, Massachusetts
Biography
Thornton Waldo Burgess was born on January 14, 1874, at Sandwich, Massachusetts, the son of salesman Thornton Waldo Burgess, Sr., and Caroline F. Hayward Burgess. Burgess had to perform odd jobs to earn money; his father died when Burgess was a baby. When he was not working, Burgess enjoyed exploring woody fields in the country near his home and discovering the plants and wildlife living there. He completed Sandwich High School in 1891 then settled near Boston, in Somerville.
He lacked money for college tuition, and so Burgess studied bookkeeping and business courses at an area school with funds provided by his grandfather. Burgess briefly worked in a shoe store and published poems in periodicals. He wrote advertisements that promoted dog food and shredded wheat. Although he did not earn much money, Burgess realized that he wanted to pursue a career in writing. By November, 1895, Burgess began cleaning at Phelps Publishing Company, which published agricultural magazines as well as the magazine Good Housekeeping. Burgess gradually provided more and more content, and he eventually became the sports editor for the company weekly The Springfield Homestead, editor of literature and domestic sections for Orange Judd weeklies, and, from 1904 to 1911, the associate editor of Good Housekeeping. He also prepared calendar sections featuring wildlife and flora for Country Life in America.
Burgess married Nina E. Osborne on June 30, 1905. She died the next year, after their son was born. Burgess wrote bedtime stories about animals for his toddler, and Good Housekeeping later printed those stories. In 1910, an editor with the publishing company Little, Brown contacted Burgess regarding his animal tales. The stories were published as Old Mother West Wind. The next year, Good Housekeeping transferred its offices to New York. Burgess remained in Massachusetts after securing copywriting employment to earn money. He married Fannie P. Johnson on April 30, 1911, and adopted her two children. In 1912, Burgess began syndicating his work with Associated News; he continued to do this for eight years. The New York Herald Tribune distributed his column over a thirty-six year period; in all, Burgess wrote more than fifteen thousand pieces. He also began speaking on the Radio Nature League in 1924. He moved to a rural Hampden, Massachusetts, home in the 1940’s, and lived there until he died on June 5, 1965.
Burgess’s affinity for wildlife and the environment is evident in Old Mother West Wind, Boy Scouts, Bedtime Story-Books, Green Meadow, Green Forest, and Smiling Pool series. He provided moral examples that would amuse and teach readers about nature. Burgess wrote from nature’s perspective, and he hoped to inspire readers to acquire compassion for animals. He promoted conservation: He established the Green Meadow Club through People’s Home Journal, in which he encouraged kindness and protection for animals and promoted the creation of sanctuaries for birds. His writing sometimes had a political agenda and favored certain legislation to limit duck hunting.
Critics disliked Burgess’s writing for its didactic tendencies, its stereotypes, and its recycled plots. Readers, however, enjoyed his stories and bought approximately eight million of Burgess’s books. Burgess had a global impact, and he helped many people to respect and value the environment and its inhabitants and to comprehend how each animal and plant influences the ecosystem.