John briefly attended Page Military Academy but couldn't adjust to the strict regimen and was removed in midyear and tutored at home (he had contracted a mild case of polio, and his parents were worried about his being exposed to the disease in public schools).

Growing up in an atmosphere saturated by his father's famous creations, John's first excursions into the professional art world were influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs themes.

[3] In addition to his artwork, John wrote a string of short stories with his brother Hulbert and his wife Jane Ralston, who also served as model for the heroines he drew.

[citation needed] In June 2003, Danton Burroughs opened a storage locker that had been sealed since his father's death in 1979.

The room was packed with items that John Coleman Burroughs had amassed throughout his very productive life: personal effects, letters, documents, books, photos, sketches, clothing, paintings, charcoals, artwork done for major Hollywood film studios, World War II propaganda art and handbook illustrations for Douglas Aircraft Company, etc.

There were also a great many items passed on from John's father, Edgar Rice Burroughs, including the latter's military hat, favorite chair, film projector, a mold for creating a bust of Edgar Rice Burroughs, photo albums, business documents, journals, favorite books, etc.