Backus, Standish, 1910-1989

Detroit, Michigan, businessman, president of the Burroughs Adding Machine Co.

Standish Backus was born in Detroit on January 12, 1875. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Michigan in 1898 and graduated from the Detroit College of Law in 1901. Following a seven year period in the private practice of law, he joined the General Motors Corporation as counsel in 1909 and became Secretary of that corporation in 1911. In 1917 he became Director and Vice-President of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company and succeeded to the presidency of that company in 1920, which office he held until his death on July 13, 1943.

In addition to his business interests, Standish Backus undertook a portion of the expense of University of Michigan professor Francis Kelsey's archeological expedition to the Near East in 1920.