Jean Burden

Jean Burden (September 1, 1914 - April 21, 2008) was an American poet, essayist, and author. She was the poetry editor for "Yankee" magazine for nearly fifty years.

Biography

Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Jean Prussing Burden was an only child. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1936, and she and her husband David were married from 1940-1949. She died at home in Altadena, California in April of 2008.

Career

During her career she served as West Coast editor of "Faith Today" and for nearly fifty years (1955-2002) was the poetry editor of "Yankee Magazine". She published numerous books of poetry and essays, and her work appeared in many national magazines including "Poetry", "Atlantic", "American Scholar", "Trace", "Saturday Review", "Virginia Quarterly Review", "Better Homes and Gardens", "Mademoiselle", "Prairie Schooner", and "Southern Review". She taught both privately and in workshops.

She also published six best-selling books on animal welfare and pet care, served as administrative officer for the Meals for Millions Foundation in Los Angeles, California from 1956-1965, and did freelance public relations work.

Honors and awards

Burden was a three-time MacDowell Colony fellow and was named Poet Laureate of Altadena. In 1986 California State University established the Jean Burden Annual Poetry Series to honor her for her contributions as a poet, essayist, anthologist, teacher and editor, and for her long-standing support of poetry at the university. The series features a reading by a noted poet each year and has included Pulitzer Prize winners as well as Poet Laureate from England and the United States.

External links

* [http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/b/burden_j.htm Jean Burden Papers at Syracuse University]
* [http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/english/dburden.htm Jean Burden Poetry Series at Cal State]