Background
Burnham, James A. was born on May 8, 1932 in Milbridge, Maine, United States. Son of Sanford F. and Hazel C. (Eldridge) Burnham.
Museum director and consultant
Burnham, James A. was born on May 8, 1932 in Milbridge, Maine, United States. Son of Sanford F. and Hazel C. (Eldridge) Burnham.
Bachelor in History cum laude, University Utah. Master of Arts in History, Michigan State University. Postgraduate, Michigan State University.
Postgraduate, Detroit Institute Arts.
Chief conservator, Milwaukee Public Museum
chief conservator, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan
executive director, Sloss Furnaces National History Landmark, Birmingham, Alabama. Member of advisory commission on research and collections management National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Member blast furnace working group International Committee for Conservation Industrial Heritage.
Past member large indsl.artifact advisory panel American industrial heritage project National Park Svc. Speaker in field; consultant or advisor Salamanca Rail, Seashore Trolley, Con Foster, Shrine to Music, Michigan State University, Kalamazoo Public, Conner Prairie, Milwaukee Art music, Lake Superior Museum Transportation, R.R. Museum Pennsylvania, numerous others.
Trustee Southern Museum Flight, Birmingham. Former member board directors Michigan Alliance for Conservation Culturala Heritage, Michigan Council for Humanities. Member public art committee Birmingham Regional Arts Commission With United States Marine Corps, 1950-1953.
Member American Association Museum, American Institute for Conservation, International Council Museum, Society for Industrial Archaeology, Alabama Museum Association (delegate), Rotary, Phi Alpha Theta.
Married Margaret Kelly. Children: Heather, David Holly. Stepchildren: Nathan, Sean.