Burt, Nathaniel, 1913-2003

Nathaniel Burt (1913-2003), writer, novelist, poet, composer, and educator, was born in Moose, Wyoming on November 21, 1913, to [Maxwell] Struthers Burt (Class of 1904) and Katharine Newlin Burt, both writers. Rearing their children, Nathaniel and his sister Julia Burt [Atteberry] in lonely Wyoming, Burt's parents took to writing and became noteworthy authors of tales set in the vast western wilderness.

Burt attended St. James's preparatory school in Maryland (upon which his novel Scotland's Burning is based), and then Princeton in 1932-1933 for his freshmen year of college (Class of 1936). Burt eventually earned his Bachelor of Science degree in musical education from New York University in 1939 and—after serving in the Navy during World War II—a Master of Fine Arts degree from Princeton in 1949. He taught in the Department of Music at Princeton from 1939-1941 and 1950-1952.

After leaving the University in 1952, Burt dedicated himself to writing full-time. He has composed pieces in a wide variety of genres, including ballet, musical score, orchestral overture, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and short stories. Burt is best known for his two books on the American 'aristocracy' ( The Perennial Philadelphians and First Families) and lesser known for his various works about Wyoming ( Jackson Hole Journal, Wyoming).

Living in Princeton for over 50 years, Burt supported and was an active member in a variety of local civic organizations, including the Historical Society of Princeton, the Princeton Chamber Orchestra, the Philadelphia Athenaeum, the Friends of Music at Princeton, and the Friends of the Princeton University Library.

Burt married Margaret "Winkie" Clinton Burt on August 5, 1941. He passed away July 1, 2003, in Princeton.

1913 born November 21, Bar BC Ranch, Moose, Wyoming 1920s-1931 attended St. James's Preparatory School 1932 entered Princeton University as a member of Class of 1936 1933 left Princeton University 1939 received B.S. in musical education from NYU 1939-1941 taught in the Princeton Music department 1941 married Margaret Clinton on August 5 1942-1945 served as communications officer, U.S. Pacific Naval Fleet 1947 published Rooms in a House 1949 received Master of Fine Arts degree from Princeton 1950 published Question on a Kite 1950-1951 taught at the Westminster Choir College 1950-1952 taught in the Princeton Music department 1953 published Scotland's Burning 1957 published Make My Bed 1963 published The Perennial Philadelphians 1968 published Leopards in the Garden 1970 published First Families 1977 published Palaces for the People 1980 Three Rivers Ranch reverted to National Park Service 1983 published Jackson Hole Journal 1991 published Wyoming 2003 died July 1, 2003, in Princeton, New Jersey