Above we see Guy Thomas Burroughs (1892-1951) who, according to the caption on the photograph, was principal of School #8 in Levant, NY in 1914. If the school building exists, I could not find it. The photograph appears to be inscribed “A Merry Christmas, To Ione” on its water-stained reverse. Below is the photograph from his obituary.
Burroughs was the oldest child of Truman A. Burroughs (1886-1939) and Edith L. Thomas (1862-1918) and a native of Chautaqua County, NY. Burroughs was ineligible for military service because of a condition associated with his right arm which was described as “crooked” and “disabled”. He attended Cornell University, class of 1922 and taught at several public schools in the county. He married Ethel May Chase (1886-1962) in 1917, a teacher from neighboring Cattaraugus County who graduated from Genesco Normal School, and the daughter of Manley L. Chase (1863-1909) and Lucy J. McKay (1866-1943). His only sister was Ione Burroughs (1903-1957) who married Norman Dudley Rowley (1904-1983). His brothers were Lawrence Alden Burroughs (1893-1979) and Forrest Truman Burroughs (1898-1979) who married Ethel M. Ormsby (1899-1978).
Guy and Edith moved to California in 1919. Guy worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company until he founded his own direct mail advertising business in 1924. His obituary summarized his life this way,
Professional activities included: former vice president of the Los Angeles Advertising Club, former president of the Los Angeles Exchange Club, former western governor of the Direct Mail Advertising Association, former western vice-president of Mail Advertising Service Association International. He was also a member of the Los Angeles Optimist Club and the University Club. For several years he taught advertising classes at USC. In 1946 he retired from active business on account of his heart ailment. Since that time he has been active in local community affairs. He was a member of the Breakfast Club, and after several years directorship of the Community Arts Association, he was recently made president of the organization. Other activities included the Los Angeles County Orchid Society and Palos Verdes College.
Palos Verdes Peninsula News, Volume XXVIII, Number 43, 16 August 1951 — Community Saddened By Passing Of Civic Leader Guy T. Burroughs
