Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932

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Detroit, Michigan, businessman and historian.

From the description of Clarence M. Burton papers, 1904-1907 and 1922-1923. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34421050

Clarence Monroe Burton was born on Nov. 18, 1853 in Whiskey Diggins, California to Charles and Ann Burton. The family moved to Hastings, Michigan, and he later attended the University of Michigan, graduating from the Law School in 1874. After marrying, he took a position at the law firm of John Ward and Eugene Skinner, later making partner. He later founded Burton Abstract and Title Company.

As an historical collector, Mr. Burton discovered historical and valuable documents throughout the Detroit area. His collection became so substantial, it took over his home at 27 Brainard Street, and when he purchased a new home on Boston Blvd., he deeded his private library, including the house on Brainard Street, to the Detroit Public Library. The former Burton residence was remodeled and opened to the public in 1915 as the Burton Historical Collection. When the Detroit Public Library opened its new building on Woodward Avenue in 1921, the collection was moved to the library.

From the description of Burton manuscript collection, 1727-1953. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 289263961

Author, attorney, historian, and founder of the Burton Historical Collection.

Clarence Monroe Burton was born on November 18, 1853 in Whiskey Diggings, California, one of many mining towns in the area. His father, Charles Burton, had been a doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan when, in 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, and Dr. Burton decided to try his luck in the gold fields with his wife, Ann, and their young son, Charles. After a few years, the family came back to Michigan, where Dr. Burton practiced medicine again full-time in Hastings. Clarence grew up in Hastings, and attended the University of Michigan, graduating from the Law School in 1874. He married and had children before heading to Detroit for employment as an attorney. He found a position in the law firm of John Ward and Eugene Skinner, who were engaged in title searching and making abstracts of land titles. Clarence was put in charge of combing through family histories, vital records and other historical sources to find the in formation needed for the abstracts. This collection of historical data led to Mr. Burton's vast knowledge and appreciation of Detroit's history. In 1883, Clarence Burton was made a partner in the firm, and by 1891 he bought out the original owners' interest in the firm and organized the Burton Abstract and Title Company. As an historical collector, Mr. Burton discovered ancient and valuable documents throughout the Detroit area. His collection became so substantial, it took over his home at 27 Brainard Street, and when he purchased a new home on Boston Blvd., he deeded his private library, including the house on Brainard Street, to the Detroit Public Library. The former Burton residence was remodeled and opened to the public in 1915 as the Burton Historical Collection. When the Detroit Public Library opened its new building on Woodward Avenue in 1921, the collection was moved to the library.

From the description of Burton manuscript collection papers, 1727-1953. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 52800896

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Orla Benedict Taylor papers, 1831-1943 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Van Dyke, William, 1877-1952. William Van Dyke papers, 1905-1944 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Hay, Jehu, d. 1785. Jehu Hay papers, 1764-1767. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Thorn, George. George Thorn papers, 1853 December 26 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932,. Digest of the Michigan herald (v. 1, no. 1, May 10, 1825-Apr. 10, 1828) Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Stellwagen, Augustus C., 1849-1926. Augustus C. Stellwagen papers, 1926 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf University of Michigan. Library. Library (University of Michigan) records, 1837-[ongoing]. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Raymond, Francis, 1816-1906. Francis Raymond papers, 1814-1842,1905. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Cook, Marshall L., 1858-1955. Marshall L. Cook papers, 1880-1945. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Baisch, Walter. Walter Baisch papers, 1927 July. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932,. A list of names that appeared in the Detroit Free Press in 1891 at the time of its 60th anniversary. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Leete, Robert. Robert Leete papers, 1926. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Fyfe, Richard Henry, 1839-1931. Richard Henry Fyfe correspondence, 1928. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Brady, George Nexsen, 1837-1920. George Nexsen Brady papers, 1850-1876. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Taylor, Orla Benedict, 1865-1945. Orla Benedict Taylor papers, 1831-1943. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Smith, George Nelson, 1807-1881. George N. Smith papers, 1846-1916 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Mottin de La Balme, Augustin, 1733-1780. Augustin Mottin de La Balme papers, undated. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932,. Detroit, 1814-1863. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf May, Samuel W., b. 1819. Samuel W. May papers, 1906 November 25 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf O'Dwyer, Cornelius, 1846-1925. Cornelius O'Dwyer papers, 1848-1862, 1922. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Russell, Israel C. (Israel Cook), 1852-1906. Israel Cook Russell papers, 1883-1904. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Charles Adam Weissert papers, 1893-1947 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. The Beaubien, or Cuillerier family of Detroit. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Burton family collection 1888-1940 Burton family collection William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Ward, John, lawyer. John Ward papers, 1871-1916. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797. Jeffrey Amherst letter, 1762. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Anna Eliza. Nye family papers, 1829-1946. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Burton manuscript collection, 1727-1953. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Shirley Wheeler Smith Papers, 1881-1959 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Murfin, James O. (James Orin), 1875-1940. James Orin Murfin papers, 1896-1940. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Albright, Egbert F., 1823-1915. Egbert F. Albright papers, 1836-1907. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Streeter, Floyd B. Floyd B. Streeter collection. State Archive of Michigan
creatorOf Carton, John J. (John Jay), 1856-1934. John J. Carton papers, 1883-1921. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Class of 1873. Class of 1873 (University of Michigan) records, 1923 and 1929-1930. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Burton, Charles W. (Charles Ward), 1876-1945. Charles W. Burton papers, 1870-1960. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Hall, Theodore Parsons, 1835-1909. Theodore P. Hall papers, 1895-1898 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Diary of Detroit [as extraced from the current numbers of Detroit newspapers. July 25, 1817-Jan. 3, 1837] Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Library (University of Michigan) records, 1837-2005, 1920-2000 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Chamberlin, John R., 1806-1866. John R. Chamberlin papers, 1837-1927. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Moore, Charles, 1835-1942. Charles Moore papers, 1789-1935. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Patrick Sinclair biographical sketch, 1906. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Clarence M. Burton papers, 1904-1907 and 1922-1923. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Marshall L. Cook and William R. Cook papers, 1880-1945 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Labadie, Jo, 1850-1933. Jo Labadie papers, 1880-1931. University of Michigan
creatorOf Scott, James. James Scott papers, 1901-1928 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn John J. Carton Papers, 1883-1921 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Butterfield, Ira H., 1841-1928. Ira H. Butterfield papers, 1861 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Burton family papers, 1875-1958. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Claude Halstead Van Tyne papers Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Lloyd, Ernest F. Ernest F. Lloyd papers, undated. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Burton manuscript collection papers, 1727-1953. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Fitzsimmons, Percival Wells Adams, 1870-1936. Percival W. Fitzsimmons papers, 1812-1922. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albright, Egbert F., 1823-1915. person
associatedWith Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797. person
associatedWith Baisch, Walter person
associatedWith Beaubien family. family
associatedWith Brady, George Nexsen, 1837-1920 person
associatedWith Burton, Charles W. (Charles Ward), 1876-1945. person
associatedWith Burton family family
associatedWith Burton Historical Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Butterfield, Ira H., 1841-1928 person
associatedWith Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730. person
associatedWith Carton, John J. (John Jay), 1856-1934. person
associatedWith Chamberlin, John R., 1806-1866. person
associatedWith Cook, Marshall L., 1858-1955. person
associatedWith Fitzsimmons, Percival Wells Adams, 1870-1936 person
associatedWith Fyfe, Richard Henry, 1839-1931. person
associatedWith Hall, Theodore Parsons, 1835-1909 person
associatedWith Hay, Jehu, d. 1785 person
associatedWith Labadie, Jo, 1850-1933. person
associatedWith Leete, Robert. person
associatedWith Lloyd, Ernest F. person
associatedWith May, Samuel W., b. 1819 person
associatedWith Monteith, John, 1788-1868. person
associatedWith Moore, Charles, 1835-1942 person
associatedWith Mottin de La Balme, Augustin, 1733-1780. person
associatedWith Murfin, James O. (James Orin), 1875-1940. person
associatedWith O'Dwyer, Cornelius, 1846-1925. person
associatedWith Raymond, Francis, 1816-1906. person
associatedWith Richard, Gabriel, 1767-1832. person
associatedWith Russell, Israel C. (Israel Cook), 1852-1906. person
associatedWith Scott, James person
associatedWith Sinclair, Patrick, 1736-1820. person
associatedWith Smith, George Nelson, 1807-1881. person
associatedWith Smith, Shirley Wheeler, 1875-1959 person
associatedWith Stellwagen, Augustus C., 1849-1926 person
associatedWith Streeter, Floyd B. person
associatedWith Taylor, Orla Benedict, 1865-1945. person
associatedWith Thorn, George person
associatedWith University of Michigan corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Class of 1873. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Van Dyke, William, 1877-1952 person
associatedWith Van Tyne, Claude Halstead, 1869-1930 person
associatedWith Ward, John, lawyer person
associatedWith Weissert, Charles Adam, 1878-1947 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Detroit (Mich.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Wayne County (Mich.)
Northwest, Old
Michigan
Michigan
Hastings (Mich.)
Fort Mackinac (Mackinac Island, Mich.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Michigan--Wayne County
Michigan--Detroit
Subject
Building
Business records
Courts
Lawyers
Probate court
Real property
Streets
Occupation
Editors
Activity

Person

Birth 1853-11-18

Death 1932-10-23

Information

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