Barrus, Clara, 1864-1931

Clara Barrus (1864-1931) was a physician and author best known as the official biographer of the prominent American naturalist writer, John Burroughs (1837-1921).

From the description of Clara Barrus papers, 1906-1931. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 60753199

Clara Barrus was one of a small number of women who graduated from medical school in the late nineteenth century. An acquaintance with John Burroughs and his wife Ursala developed into a life-long friendship. Burroughs named her his literary executor and official biographer. After his death, she edited and published his journals and wrote a Burroughs biography.

From the description of Clara Barrus papers, 1909-1927. (The Henry Ford). WorldCat record id: 713677940

Biographical Note

Clara Barrus

• 1864, Aug. 8: Born, Port Byron, N.Y.
• 1888: M. D., Boston University, Boston, Mass.
• 1889 - 1893 : Physician, Utica, N.Y.
• 1893 - 1910 : Assistant physician, Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital, Middletown, N.Y. Professor of psychiatry, Women’s College of New York, New York, N.Y.
• 1905: Published The Retreat of a Poet Naturalist. Boston: Poet Lore Co.
• 1908: Published Nursing the Insane. New York: Macmillan
• 1909: Traveled with John Burroughs and John Muir in Southwest United States, and with John Burroughs to Hawaii
• 1912 - 1914 : Physician, private sanitarium, Pelham, N.Y.
• 1914: Published Our Friend John Burroughs. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
• 1920: Published John Burroughs, Boy and Man. New York: Doubleday, Page, and Co.
• 1921 - 1931 : Literary executor, estate of John Burroughs
• 1925: Published Life and Letters of John Burroughs. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
• 1925 - 1931 : Lecturer on John Burroughs, John Muir, and her travels
• 1926: Traveled to Europe
• 1928: Edited My Dog Friends by John Burroughs. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Edited The Heart of Burroughs’ Journals. Port Washington: Kennikat Press
• 1929: Traveled to Europe
• 1931: Published Whitman and Burroughs, Comrades. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
• 1931, Apr. 4: Died, Roxbury, N.Y.

John Burroughs

• 1837, Apr. 3: Born, Roxbury, N.Y.
• 1857: Married Ursula North (died 1917)
• 1864 - 1873 : Clerk, U.S. Treasury Department, Washington, D.C.
• 1871: Published Wake-Robin. Boston: Hurd and Houghton
• 1871 - 1921 : Published numerous nature essays
• 1873 - 1884 : Federal bank examiner, West Park N.Y.
• 1896: Published Whitman: A Study. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
• 1899: Member, E. H. Harriman’s expedition to Alaska
• 1901: Traveled in Southwest United States with John Muir and Clara Barrus and to Hawaii with Clara Barrus
• 1903: Traveled to Washington state with President Theodore Roosevelt
• 1921, Mar. 29: Died on route to Roxbury, N.Y.

From the guide to the Clara Barrus and John Burroughs Papers, 1877-1981, (bulk 1920-1958), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Clara Barrus (1864-1931) was a physician and author best known as the official biographer of the prominent American naturalist writer, John Burroughs (1837-1921). Barrus was born in Port Byron, New York and received an M.D. in 1888 from Boston University. During her medical career she practiced privately in Utica, New York, served on the staff of the Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane, and as professor of psychiatry at the Woman's Medical College of New York City.

Barrus met John Burroughs in 1902 and became his devoted follower, interviewer, and frequent companion. She published several essays on Burroughs during his lifetime and, after his death, was named his literary executrix and official biographer. She devoted most of her remaining years to Burroughs' memory, editing his posthumous works and journals and publishing the two-volume Life and Letters of John Burroughs in 1928 and Whitman and Burroughs, Comrades in 1931.

From the guide to the Clara Barrus papers, 1906-1931, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)