Burroughs, John S. (John Sumner), 1916-1988

Master Gunnery Sergeant John “Buddy” Burroughs was a member of the euphonium/baritone section with the U.S. Marine Band for thirty-one years, from 1935 to 1966. Born in 1916, he grew up in the Washington, D.C., region and spent the entirety of his life there. It had been his ambition to join the U.S. Marine Band since he was young. In childhood, he studied with members of the Army Band and with Peter Hazes from the Marine Band. As a high school student in Washington, D.C., Burroughs was a member of the Washington High School Cadets and the Elks Boys Band. Neighbor and high school classmate Donald Kimball entered the Marine Band euphonium/baritone section just a few years before Burroughs. When he joined the Marine Band as one of the youngest members at age nineteen, Burroughs sat next to future Marine Band Director William F. Santlemann. While he ultimately specialized in euphonium, Burroughs played several instruments in the band, serving on viola in the orchestra and mandolin in the dance orchestra, as well as becoming assistant drum major for a few years. He became known for his baritone playing, however, and quickly became a featured soloist.

Burroughs took part in many tours with the band, spurring a lifelong interest in travel that resulted in collaborations with bands around the world. For example, he performed on a Naval Mission to Haiti for five years, assisting local bands in finding instruments and sheet music and teaching them marching techniques. After retiring from the Marine Band in 1966, he consulted with the Nationalist Chinese Marine Band, the Chinese Navy Band, and military bands in Australia and New Zealand. He also trained the Solomon Islands Police Band as a result of his involvement with the Guadalcanal Campaign Veterans. These fruitful collaborations are reflected in the large amount of correspondence in the collection. Burroughs traveled frequently with Lt. Col. Dale Harpham, a trombone player in the band who eventually became Director.

Burroughs was the consummate collector. Not only was he an accomplished postage stamp collector, selling several collections at auction, he accumulated a massive amount of Marine Band memorabilia, including photographs, documents, tour itineraries, newspapers, and letters; some of these items he later found to be one of a kind. His music collection, however, was his shining accomplishment, representing one of the largest private collections of band music, recordings, and memorabilia in the U.S. at the time it was donated. These items are often international in scope due to the relationships he developed around the world. As he collected, he often acquired surplus copies of printed music, and gave away boxes to anyone who asked, particularly to leaders of international bands who had limited access to such items.

After Burroughs retired from the Marine Band in 1966, he continued with his vigorous international correspondence, as well as teaching and performing. He performed and toured for many years as a charter member of the National Concert Band of America, joined by several other retired members of the Marine Band. He also performed with a German polka band. Burroughs participated in the administration of several musical organizations such as the National Catholic Bandmasters’ Association and as secretary of the Association of Retired and Reserve Members of the U.S. Marine Band. He was also an active member of the International Military Music Society and the Windjammers Unlimited. Burroughs was recognized for his service with a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, an American Theater Medal, and a Commendation from the Chinese Marine Corps. Burroughs married Katherine Gibbons, whose father was a White House policeman, in 1938 and they had two children. After retirement, the couple continued to live in suburban Maryland.