Biography
Clara Miller Burd was born in her grandparents’ home in New York City on May 17, 1873. Though little is known about Burd’s early education, she became an art student at the Chase School and National Academy of Design in New York. The latter awarded Burd a medal of achievement in 1892 when she was just nineteen years old.[1]
Burd traveled to Paris in 1898 where she worked under the tutelage of artists Gustave-Claude-Étienne Courtois and Renardo. When she returned to America she was hired as a stained glass designer at the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company in New York. She also worked at the J&R Lamb Company and at the Church Glass and Decoration Company.[2] Her most famous work was a memorial window for President William McKinley in Ohio. She also designed many church windows, and often painted mural decorations for churches.[1]
Burd is best known for her illustrations for children’s books. She also designed magazine covers for many major publications in the 20th century, including covers for Literary Digest, Woman’s Home Companion, Canadian Home-Journal, Farmer’s Wife, Modern Priscilla, and Women’s World.[1] She lived in Montclair, New York until her death in 1933.[1]
[1] Franklin, Tricia. “Illustrators: Clara M. Burd (American, 1910s-30s).” Historical Boys’ Clothing. Feburary 9, 2004. July 10, 2019. https://www.histclo.com/art/illus/ind/alpha/b/i-burd.html
[2] “Clara Miller Burd.” Wikipedia. April 19, 2019. July 10, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Miller_Burd
This artist's biography was written by Rachel Mancour, 2019 Walt Reed Distinguished Scholar Intern.
The photograph of the artist is from: https://jefkelief.blogspot.com/2016/07/clara-burd.html
Illustrations by Clara Miller Burd
Additional Resources
Bibliography
Heppner, Darrell. Great Children's Illustrators, 1880-1930. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2004.
Lawrence, Josephine. Next Door Neighbors. New York: Cupples & Leon, 1926.
Lawrence, Josephine and Clara Miller Burd. Julia's Happy Visits. New York: Cupples & Leon, 1926.
Zimmer, Daniel. The Golden Age: Masterworks from the Golden Age of Illustration. St. Louis, MO: The Illustrated Press, 2015.
