
CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE AND WORKS OF EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
David A. Adams
Copyright © 1997, All Rights Reserved
HTML verision by David Bruce Bozarth
The Chronology first appeared in ERBAPA #55, Fall 1997. John Martin, Editor. Web Published by permission of the author. This work is provided as a reference source for Edgar Rice Burroughs researchers. The material may be freely copied as long as the copyright notice and author credit remains intact.
Preface
Several years ago I began this chronology as an aid to writing literary criticism on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. As I was relatively new to these endeavors, I found it useful to place the particular novel under scrutiny in its proper historical and biographical context as I proceeded with my writing. Since this time, this chronology has grown to a size that I think it would be of interest to others involved in these literary efforts, and so I decided to share it with the members of ERBapa to use with their own work.
For the purposes of size, I decided to include only the dates of ERB's life 1875-1950. Of course, important Burroughs family dates began before 1875, and many important dates of publications continued after 1950.
This chronology is organized in the following manner: There is a listing of cogent historical events that may have influenced ERB's writing, followed by the major biographical events in his life. All of the publications of the novels are listed, followed by an abbreviation of the publisher. Of particular interest are the dates each work was originally written (indented in the chronology). The Tarzan films are also listed. I decided not to include extensive literary works by other authors to keep this list concentrated on ERB, even though my personal chronology includes the writings of many other authors.
The main problem in constructing a chronology such as this one is to decide what to include and what to leave out. I began by including only those events I judged to be of importance to ERB's literary work My decisions of course are personal ones, and they reflect the limits of my knowledge concerning the details included in each of ERB's novels.
My computer database is color coded for easy reading, however, I did not use this method of reproduction in ERB apa due to the cost involved. If you are interested in a computer disk of this chronology, just mail me a disk formatted to either PC or Macintosh along with postage on a self-addressed envelope or computer disk mailer, and I will send you a simple text copy of this list. This will make it possible for you to continue your own chronology without having to retype all of my information.
My sources are the obvious ones: Porges, Fenton, Zeuschner, Fury, Farmer, et.al. Mistakes and obvious omissions may be graciously pointed out to the compiler, David A. Adams.
DATE | AGE | |
1875 | 3 mos. | Born Sept 1, 1875 to George Tyler & Mary Evaline (Zieger) in Chicago, IL- the youngest of 4 boys (George Tyler Jr., Henry Studley, Frank Coleman). Births of Hans Christian Andersen, Thomas Mann, Rainer Maria Rilke, C.G, Jung, and Albert Schweitzer |
1881 | 6 | "Edward" or "Eddie" Burroughs entered the Brown School on the West Side of Chicago |
1887 | 12 | Placed in a girls school during a diphtheria epidemic |
1888 | 13 | Enters the Harvard School in Chicago, begins his study of Latin |
1889 | 14 | Began proposing to Emma Hulbert who lived down the street |
1890 | 15 | Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3 |
1891 | 16 | Lived with his brothers, George & Harry, on 'The Sweetser & Burroughs' ranch along the Raft River Valley (Cassia County) in the southeastern part of the Territory of Idaho. Attends Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. (1891-92) |
1892 | 17 | Enters Michigan Military Academy |
1895 | 20 | Graduates from Michigan Military Academy & became a teacher there |
1896 | 21 | Enlists in army and is assigned to Troop B Seventh Cavalry in the Arizona Territory |
1897 | 22 | Discharged from Fort Grant, Arizona; begins work at father's firm, the American Battery Co. |
1898 | 23 | The U.S. battleship Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor, Cuba, and two months later the Spanish-American War began. Radium was discovered by the Curies and G. Bemont. Application for a commission with Teddy's Roosevelt's Rough Riders turned down. Returns to Idaho; opens stationery store in Pocatello. |
1899 | 24 | Stanley's Through the Dark Continent is published. Travels to N.Y., returns to work at Am. Battery Co. Buys copy of Descent of Man by Darwin |
1900 | 25 | First trial flight of Zeppelin. Jack London's The Son of the Wolf is published. Marries grammar-school sweetheart Emma Hulbert in Chicago, Jan 31. |
1901 | 26 | President McKinley assassinated; succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt. Boers begin organized guerrilla warfare. |
1902 | 27 | Owen Wister's The Virginian is published. |
1903 | 28 | Wright brothers fly a powered airplane. Travels with Emma to Idaho to join his brothers' mining company. First fiction written, (a fairy tale set in Idaho).
WRITTEN:
|
1904 | 29 | Work begins on the Panama Canal. Russo-Japanese War breaks out. In Salt Lake City, has job as railroad policeman; in Chicago, employed as construction worker, door-to-door book salesman, vendor of light bulbs, accountant. |
1905 | 30 | Theodore Roosevelt inaugurated as president for second term. Edwin L. Arnold's Lieut. Gullivar Jones: His Vacation is published. |
1906 | 31 | San Francisco earthquake. Tries to enlist in Chinese army. Works for Sears, Roebuck Co. 1906-08, shows talent for managerial work. |
1908 | 33 | Liquid helium was first made, and tungsten was proved to be well adapted for filaments in incandescent lamps. 1908 Otto, king of Bavaria, as mad as his brother, Ludwig, was shut up in a chateau. Daughter Joan born Jan 12. Though successful at Sears, leaves security in August to start his own business (Burroughs & Dentzer Advertising Contractors) which fails. His 3 brothers return to Chicago with the failure of their gold-dredging projects in Idaho.
WRITTEN:
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1909 | 34 | Model T Ford is produced. Louis Bleriot crossed the English Channel in an airplane. Son Hulbert born Aug 12. Works for Dr. Stace as office manager for the Physicians Co-Operative Association, selling Alcola, a nostrum for alcoholism. Turns down job offer from Sears, Roebuck. |
1911 | 36 | Boule was the first to describe a nearly complete Neanderthal skeleton. Secretary & Advertising Manager, Champlin-Yardley Co., Chicago (owned by Coleman Burroughs).
WRITTEN:
|
1912 | 37 | Working as manager of the System Service Bureau, Chicago - "The Magazine of Efficiency". Arizona and New Mexico become states. SS. Titantic sinks on her maiden voyage. Piltdown Man"found" in England (proved to be a hoax in 1953). Metcalf of All-Story buys serial rights to Tarzan of the Apes for $700.
PUBLISHED:
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1913 | 38 | Woodrow Wilson inaugurated as 28th President of the U.S.. Income tax begins in the U.S. Schweitzer opens hospital in French Congo. Ford manufacturing 1000 Model T's a day. Captain George Tyler Burroughs (ERB's father) died Feb. 15 (age 79). Son John born 28 Feb. Travels to San Diego, Cal. with family for the winter.
PUBLISHED:
|
1914 | 39 | World War I begins in Europe. Goddard begins his rocketry experiments. Returns to Chicago and moves to the suburbs of Oak Park, 6415 Augusta Street.
PUBLISHED:
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1915 | 40 | First Zeppelin attack on London-WWI. Hugo Junkers constructs the first fighter airplane. D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation is a sensational film success. Ed and his family move into the former country home of his parents, 414 Augusta St., Oak Park. Selig accepts The Lad and the Lion for
filming but rejects The Cave Girl. Story outline for a wild-animal comedy, The Lion Hunter, is rejected by Selig. Ed joins the Author's League of America.
PUBLISHED:
|
1916 | 41 | "Pancho" Villa pursued by Brig.-General Pershing. British first use tanks on Western Front. Travels to Los Angeles. Difficulties with film producers - sells the film rights for Tarzan of the Apes to William Parsons (National Film Corporation). Wrote a trip diary called "Auto Gypsying," an account of a cross-country trip through the Midwest to the West Coast. Burroughs family moved to 355 South Hoover Street in Chicago. Ed is suffering from neuritis. Plans to enlist for WWI, but Emma persuades him to stay at home with his family.
PUBLISHED:
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1917 | 42 | U.S. declares war on Germany - WWI. Bolshevik Revolution in Russia - czar abdicates. 100-inch reflecting telescope installed at Mount Wilson, California. Appointed captain in reserves by state of Illinois.
PUBLISHED:
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1918 | 43 | Ed unsatisfied with William G. Chapman, his syndicating agent, took over his own newspaper sales. WWI Armistice signed, Nov 11, 1918.
PUBLISHED:
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1919 | 44 | Permanent move to California, buys estate (to be named Tarzana Ranch) in San Fernando Valley. Ed acquires a new secretary, John A. Shea. Studley, Ed's nephew, at ranch after the death of his wife, Mary Becker, in childbirth on April 22. Red Army takes Ufa; beginning of White defeat. Red Army takes Omsk. Observations of the total eclipse of the sun bear out Einstein's theory of relativity.
PUBLISHED:
|
1920 | 45 | Eighteenth amendment - prohibition passed. Studley's infant daughter, Margaret Mary, died of spinal meningitis in March. Mary Evaline (Ed's mother) died on 5 April, age 79. She had been living at Tarzana. A swimming pool installed at Tarzana.
PUBLISHED:
|
1921 | 46 | Regular radio programs begun by a station in Pittsburgh. The Burroughs children were withdrawn from school to be tutored at home. Chess player Capablanca wins world championship from Lasker, who has held the title since 1894.
PUBLISHED:
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1922 | 47 | Begins sub-dividing part of his Tarzana ranch to sell lots for houses. Mussolini forms Fascist government. Lenin is ill so Stalin is made general secretary of the Bolshevik party.
PUBLISHED:
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1923 | 48 | Ed incorporates self as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Ed gives up the idea of success at farming and auctions off his livestock and equipment.
PUBLISHED:
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1924 | 49 | Lenin dies in January. Power struggles in Russia with Stalin as the leading player. Raymond Dart and Robert Broom find Australopithecus africanus. Plans to sell 120 acres of Tarzana ranch for country club, a financial disaster. Ed is near physical collapse from overexertion and anxiety.
PUBLISHED:
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1925 | 50 | Ed auctions most of his horses in an economic move. Family auto-camping trip to the Grand Canyon in August. Voronoff combines animal and human experimentation in the field of induced rejuvenation.
PUBLISHED:
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1926 | 51 | Goddard fires the first liquid fuel rocket. Daughter, Joan, dates Jim Pierce, and ERB selects him as a film Tarzan.
PUBLISHED:
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1927 | 52 | Lindbergh flies the "Spirit of St. Louis" nonstop New York to Paris. Johnny Weissmuller swims 100 yards in 51 seconds. Joins anti-Prohibition group (The Association Against the Prohibition Amendment, Inc.). Built a beach house at Malibu. Cyril Ralph Rothmund hired as ERB's secretary. Joan Burroughs stage debut at the Weber Little Theater in Ogden, Utah, 20 Feb.
PUBLISHED:
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1928 | 53 | Stalin has complete control of the Communist Party. He begins a five-year economic plan. Amundsen died attempting to rescue Nobile in the Arctic. Voronoff's work on rejunevation by transplanting glands. Film Tarzan, James Pierce, marries Joan Burroughs on 8 Aug.
PUBLISHED:
|
1929 | 54 | "Black Friday" - U.S. Stock Exchange collapses on Oct. 28: world economic crisis begins. St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Trotsky expelled from the U.S.S.R.. Ed & his 2 sons on an auto-camping trip to the Ensenada area of Lower California. Joan Burroughs Pierce, II, daughter of Jim & Joan, born on Dec. 24, ERB's first grandchild.
PUBLISHED:
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1930 | 55 | Tarzana officially recognized as an independent post office. Frank Coleman, Ed's brother died on 18 March. Ed suffer a serious illness with a bladder obstruction, surgery in Nov.
PUBLISHED:
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1931 | 56 | Moved to studio at Malibu.
PUBLISHED:
|
1932 | 57 | Franklin D. Roosevelt wins U.S. presidential election in Democratic landslide. Studley Burroughs (Ed's nephew, Harry's son) is drinking and fails to complete his art assignments on time, so Ed returns to J. Allen St. John for the dust jacket of Tarzan and the City of Gold).
PUBLISHED:
|
1933 | 58 | Ella Oldham Burroughs (Harry's wife) was killed in an automobile accident on 30 March (Harry becomes involved in unusual psychic experiments to contact his wife.). Son, Hulbert, graduated from Pomona College in Claremont, California.
PUBLISHED:
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1934 | 59 | Black blizzards. Ed began taking flying lessons in January. James Michael Pierce is born to Jim and Joan Pierce on Aug. 13, ERB's first grandson. Ed divorces Emma on Dec 6, 1934 in Las Vegas. Jack graduated magna cum laude in art from Pomona College.
PUBLISHED:
|
1935 | 60 | Ed marries Florence Dearholt on 4 April in the Las Vegas court house. Florence brings two children to the marriage, Lee (age 6) and Caryl Lee (age 4) by her former husband, Ashton Dearholt. Ed has bladder surgery in Nov. and a long period of convalescence.
PUBLISHED:
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1936 | 61 | John Coleman "Jack" Burroughs (Ed's youngest son) married Jane Ralston on 12 Dec.
PUBLISHED:
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1937 | 62 | Isolationism at its peak. Lee Burroughs (adopted son) is enrolled at Hollywood Military Academy but soon removed. Ed is having angina pains.
PUBLISHED:
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1938 | 63 | Orson Welles's Martian broadcast.
PUBLISHED:
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1939 | 64 | World War II starts. Lindbergh: "Keep Out!" Florence has major surgery in June. Ed reports "several slight heart attacks" in his diary.
PUBLISHED:
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1940 | 65 | The Fall of France. Moves to Hawaii with Florence 18 April. Ed is drinking.
PUBLISHED:
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1941 | 66 | Ed & Florence separate in March. Ed is still drinking; columnist for the Honolulu Advertiser. Depression, heart attacks, bladder infection. Ed at Pearl Harbor bombing.
PUBLISHED:
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1942 | 67 | Retreat in the Pacific; Midway; Guadalcanal. Ed-War Correspondent for UP in the South Pacific - no longer drinking. Florence was granted a divorce from Ed May 4 in Juarez, Mexico. John Ralston Burroughs born to Jack and Jane 22 June, ERB's 3rd grandchild.
PUBLISHED:
|
1943 | 68 | Battles at Salerno, Cassino, and Tarawa. ERB wrote no fiction for the year after March 30.
WRITTEN:
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1944 | 69 | Anzio, Normandy, the Bulge, Saipan and Leyte Gulf. Covers war as correspondent in Gilberts and Marshalls. Danton Burroughs born to Jane and Jack, 2 June, ERB's 4th. grandchild. Ed's brother George died 8 June; Lew Sweetser of Idaho died 9 June; & Emma died 5 Nov.
PUBLISHED:
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1945 | 70 | Iwo Jima and Okinawa. FDR dies; Truman is President; V-E Day. Hiroshima and Nagasaki; V-J Day. Ed returns to US sick with angina pectoris. Son, Hulbert, marries Marion Thrasher. Ed moves into his new home in Encino.
RADIO/FILM:
|
1946 | 71 |
PUBLISHED:
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1947 | 72 |
PUBLISHED:
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1948 | 73 |
PUBLISHED:
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1949 | 74 | Ed is very ill; suffers a heart attack. Nephew, Studley Burroughs, age 57, died suddenly of an embolism on 23 December.
RADIO/FILM:
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1950 | 74 | ERB died March 19, 1950 while reading the Sunday comics in bed. He was 74 years old. |