Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

Burden, Carter

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role Collector
dates 1941-1996
city New York City
stateNY
other citiesBeverly Hills, CA; Portsmouth, RI;
sex M
historical notes Collector, bibliophile, businessman, politician, publisher, founder of a broadcasting empire (Commodore Media), and benefactor of the arts.

He was a collector of masterly drawings, including works by Sargent, Picasso and Matisse. As a bibliophile he collected of first editions of 20th-century American authors, like Fitzgerald, Faulkner and Hemingway.

In the 1970's, Burden financed his book purchases through the sale of his large collection of contemporary paintings.

In philanthropy, he was a major benefactor of the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library and the New York City Ballet, as well as the Burden Center for the Aging in Yorkville, which he established and helped finance. He also supported the National Crime Prevention Council, the Brookdale Center on Aging, Wellesley College and Survivors of Domestic Abuse.

Burden was the son of photographer Shirley Carter Burden and the great-great-great grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. His first wife, Amanda Jay Mortimer, was the daughter of Stanley Mortimer, a grandson of a founder of Standard Oil, and of Barbara (Babe) Cushing, who divorced Mr. Mortimer and married William S. Paley, the founder of CBS, when Amanda was 3.

Burden and his first wife were New York socialites. They threw parties which included Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, Larry Rivers, Robert and Ethel Kennedy, Joan and Edward M. Kennedy, and, once, Prince Philip of Britain as guests.

In 1972, Mr. Burden and Amanda were divorced. He married Susan Lombaer in 1977.
decades
of activity
1960-1970
1970-1980
1980-1990
1990-2000
updated 03/22/2024 12:09:30
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Archives/Repository Collection Title Collection Details
The Museum of Modern Art
Library and Archives
Artist file: Burden, Carter; miscellaneous uncataloged material. see details...
Archives of American Art
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Oral history interview with Leo Castelli, 1969 May 14 - 1973 June 8. see details...

see also:
Burden, Shirley