David H. Burton, acclaimed historian, SJU professor

David H. Burton, 91, of Bryn Mawr, a World War II veteran, history professor, and prolific author, died Saturday, Oct. 22, of pneumonia at Sunrise of Haverford.

Dr. Burton was born in Oil City, Pa., where he attended St. Joseph's High School. Just weeks after graduating in 1943, he enlisted in the Army to fight in World War II.

Trained as a switchboard operator and rifleman, Dr. Burton saw action with the Army's 334th Infantry, Company G, in the Rhineland. He was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge, and received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

After the war, he graduated from the University of Scranton with a history degree in 1949 and went on to earn a master's degree and a doctorate, both in history from Georgetown University in Washington.

In 1953, he joined the faculty at St. Joseph's College, now a university, and spent 24 years as head of the history department. For many years, he also taught night school there and at Cabrini College.

He wrote 20 books, including biographies of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., and Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross.

In addition to biographies, he authored ancillary monographs, such as Theodore Roosevelt: Confident Imperialist and Oliver Wendell Homes: The Political Ideas of Justice Holmes.

As he delved into the lives of American presidents, Dr. Burton studied their correspondence with British leaders. His resulting collection, American History - British Historians, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1976.

Another book, The Learned Presidency, was named one of the outstanding academic books of 1988 by a division of the American Library Association. And another, Cecil Spring Rice: A Diplomat's Life, chronicled the accomplishments of a famed British ambassador to the U.S.

"He always had writing on his mind," said daughter Antoinette. "He wrote the majority of his books on a typewriter. He was dedicated to his craft, but he was also a beloved teacher."

Dr. Burton also lectured at Cabrini College and Georgetown University. While on sabbatical in London, he taught at Heythrop College, University of London, and what is now the University of Westminster.

In 1962, he won a Lindback Award for excellence in teaching. He received the Themis Award for exemplary performance from the Delaware County Bar Association in 1970, the Tengelmann Award for Distinguished Teaching and Research from St. Joseph's in 1990, and the Brother Bartholomew A. Sheehan, S.J., Award for institutional service in 2001.

Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Geraldine Ferrari Burton; daughters Monica and Victoria; and three grandchildren.

A viewing from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, will be followed by a second viewing from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the Villanova University campus. A 10 a.m. Funeral Mass is planned. Interment is in Valley Forge Memorial Gardens, King of Prussia.

bcook@phillynews.com

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