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John Burroughs, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Nature Fakers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-1629

  • Staff Only

In this manuscript, Broadus Farrar discusses John Burroughs' criticism of and Theodore Roosevelt's reaction to the nature fakers (nature writers who became popular in the early 20th century with nominally factual works anthropomorphizing wild animals). Burroughs began the campaign against these authors in his strongly worded Real and Sham Natural History (1903), but the fakers were not defeated until 1907, when Theodore Roosevelt gave an interview to Everybody's Magazine in which he denounced not only the writers themselves but also those who supported and encouraged their work.

Dates

  • circa 1959

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

In this manuscript, Broadus Farrar discusses John Burroughs' criticism of and Theodore Roosevelt's reaction to the nature fakers (nature writers who became popular in the early 20th century with nominally factual works anthropomorphizing wild animals). Burroughs began the campaign against these authors in his strongly worded Real and Sham Natural History (1903), but the fakers were not defeated until 1907, when Theodore Roosevelt gave an interview to Everybody's Magazine in which he denounced not only the writers themselves but also those who supported and encouraged their work.

Biographical/Historical Note

Broadus Fleshman Farrar was born in Kentucky to Reverend Ezekiel Burford and Mollie (McCoy) Farrar on December 5, 1902. He earned his MA from the University of Alabama (1925) and his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1944). Farrar began teaching at the University of Tennessee in approximately 1925 and retired from the English Department in 1971. He died on May 17, 1981 in Knoxville, Tennessee and is buried in the Highland Memorial Cemetery.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single folder.

Acquisition Note

Harriette, Arnell, and Burford Farrar donated this manuscript in memory of Broadus F. Farrar.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480