“Margaret Taylor was born November 1, 1915, in the small community of St. Rose outside New Orleans to Alexander Taylor, a farmer, and his wife Octavia, a domestic laborer. After World War I, the Taylor family joined others in migrating from the South to urban areas in the North. Looking for better job opportunities, Alexander Taylor moved his family to Chicago where he found work in a railroad roundhouse and Octavia found work as a domestic laborer.” (1)
“[She] was brought at the age of five by her parents...to Chicago where she grew up, was educated, and where her distinctive career has unfolded.” (2)
“She attended Englewood High School from where her community activism was jumpstarted [sic] when she and classmate Gwendolyn Brooks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, joined the NAACP Youth Council.” (3)
“She graduated from Englewood High School in 1933, and then earned a teaching certificate from Chicago Normal College in 1937. In 1939, Taylor received an upper-grade art certificate from the college, which had been renamed Chicago Teachers College before becoming Chicago State University.” (1)
“Burroughs made the first of her many contributions to African American arts and culture when she founded--at age 22--the South Side Community Art Center, a community organization that serves as a gallery and workshop studio for artists and students. Mrs. Burroughs continued to serve on the Board of Directors for the Center, which remained active more than sixty years after its formation.” (4)
“After marrying Bernard Goss in 1939, Margaret spent time creating her own artwork in sculpture, oils, acrylics, and batik while teaching elementary school. After the birth of her daughter, Gayle, she continued her education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1946, and a master’s degree in 1948, in art education from the Art Institute of Chicago.” (1)
“She taught art at DuSable High School in the Bronzeville neighborhood for more than 20 years. She taught for 10 years at Kennedy-King College. She also earned a Masters degree in Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago.” (3)
”Eventually her artistic pursuits expanded to include writing, especially poetry. In 1947, several definitive events took place in Margaret’s life. She and Bernard Goss divorced; one of her prints on exhibit at Atlanta University was awarded an honorable mention; and she published her first book, Jespar, the Drummin’ Boy. Published under her family name of Taylor, the children’s book was written and illustrated by Margaret.” (1)
“Burroughs has a national reputation as a visual artist and as an arts organizer. Her long exhibition record as a painter and printmaker began in 1949 and has included exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad. A retrospective of her work was held in Chicago in 1984.” (2)
“During the mid-1950s Margaret Burroughs married Charles Burroughs, poet and founder of the Associated Negro Press. His organization, modeled on the Associated Press, played an important role in the coordination of African American newspapers throughout the United States.” (4)
“With her husband, Burroughs converted the ground floor of their old Chicago mansion into a small museum in which they could display a variety of artifacts. More than 500 people toured the museum during its first year. Heartened by the public’s interest, Burroughs devoted herself to raising funds for the museum. She firmly believed that this museum would enrich lives, especially those of young black people.” (1)
“She authored books for children like What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black. Dr. Burroughs creativity can be seen in her artwork that shares our appreciation for use in the settings by which individuals interpret their cultural identity.” (5)
“During 1968, Burroughs was involved in a variety of activities that helped shape her as a poet. She taught African and African American art history at the Chicago Institute of Art while also taking part in an internship—supported by a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities—at the Field Museum in Chicago. That year the American Forum for International Study awarded Burroughs a travel grant to Africa. Although she stayed primarily in Ghana, she did visit other West African countries. One year later Burroughs returned to Ghana to attend the American Forum of International Study program at the University of Ghana. These trips to Africa provided the inspiration for Africa, My Africa, Burroughs’ second volume of poetry.” (1)
“In 1975 she received the President's Humanitarian Award and in 1977 was distinguished as one of Chicago's Most Influential Women by the Chicago Defender. February 1, 1986 was proclaimed "Dr. Margaret Burroughs Day" in Chicago by late Mayor Harold Washington.” (4)
“In 1986, she was appointed as a commissioner for the Chicago Park District under then-Mayor Harold Washington. Her current term would've expired in 2013. In 1989, she won the Paul Robeson Award--named after the African American singer and actor known for his political activism in the 1950s--which was also given to other well-known figures involved in the arts including writers Studs Terkel and Maya Angelou, and actors Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier.” (3)
“She then created the Burroughs Group, an agency that provides consultation and support services to the art community. She has fostered an appreciation of African heritage in those whose lives she has touched.” (1)
“Burroughs passed away on November 21, 2010 at age 93.” (4)
Reference
1. Harroun, D. Burroughs, Margaret Taylor 1917- [internet]. Encyclopedia.com [updated 2019 Dec 23; cited 2020 Jan 13]. Available from: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/historians-and-chronicles/historians-miscellaneous-biographies/margaret-taylor-burroughs
2. Heritage Gallery Staff. Margaret Burroughs (African American, 1917) [internet]. Pacific Palisades, CA: Heritage Gallery; 2009 [cited 2020 Jan 13]. Available from: http://www.heritagegallery.com/margaret-burroughs.html
3. Askart Staff. Margaret Burroughs (1917-2010) [internet]. [cited 2020 Jan 13]. Available from: https://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Margaret_Taylor_Goss_Burroughs/101482/Margaret_Taylor_Goss_Burroughs.aspx
4. The History Makers Staff. Margaret Burroughs [internet]. Chicago, Illinois: The History Makers [cited 2020 Jan 13]. Available from: https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/margaret-burroughs-40
5. Margaret Burroughs Staff. Margaret Burroughs The Legend And First Lady Of African American Art Movement [internet]. Margaretburroughs.com; 2014 Sept 16 [cited 2020 Jan 13]. Available from: http://www.margaretburroughs.com/