To learn more about the American Friends of Chantilly:
Newsletter 1
Newsletter 2


Keep the Chantilly Experience Alive !
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What is American Friends of Chantilly?

American Friends of Chantilly, Inc. was founded in 2003 by a group of Nashville, TN Francophiles who had been captivated by visits to that historical site. Its purpose is two-fold:

A. To raise private funds for the restoration and preservation of paintings, sculptures, books and historic manuscripts located at Chateau de Chantilly.

B. To encourage Americans to visit that beautiful site as individuals, families and with tour groups. The activities of American Friends of Chantilly parallel those of Les Amis du Musee Conde a much older, private French association. Board members of the French group serve on the board of the American association. Nationwide membership includes persons interested in the arts, who have visited the chateau/museum, or learned about it, and wish to help preserve its magnificent collections for the enjoyment of future generations. Its work has been encouraged by the International Alliance Francaise, and by M. Alain Decaux of the Academie Francaise, President of the “College des Conservateures du Domaine de Chantilly.” American Friends of Chantilly, Inc. has been approved by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a not-forprofit, philanthropic association. Membership dues and restoration contributions are exempt from U.S. income tax. The first projects supported by American Friends of Chantilly have been to participate in the restoration of the Chateau’s collection of priceless 17th century Clouet portraits of French kings and their courts; the successful, inaugural 2005 tour; and underwriting the first French language edition of “GARDENS OF ILLUSION, The Genius of Andre Le Nostre.” by Dr. Hamilton Hazlehurst.

American Friends of Chantilly
158 Valley Forge
Nashville, Tennessee 37205
Phone: 615-383-2852
Fax: 615-383-2853
Email: BURG1927@comcast.net

Board of Directors, American Friends of Chantilly, Inc. 2007

Dr. Roger L. Burgess, LLD. is President of Burgess Communications, Nashville, Tennessee. He has spent over 40 years as a professional in communications and fund raising. He has served as a Director or General Secretary of numerous philanthropic organizations, and on various boards including Red Cross, United Way and The United Methodist Church.

Mr. David Carter and Mme. Pauline Carter, of Senlis, France, live only a few miles from Chateau de Chantilly. In recent years they have been active in assisting to obtain funding from American foundations for the renovation of the Chateau’s magnificent Galerie des Batailles.

Mme. Carter, who is French, is a Board member of Les Amis du Musee de Chantilly. The organization has played an important role in raising funds for the renovation of many of the Chateau’s treasures, an average of $130,000 for each of the past three years. For many years, Mme. Carter served on the Board of the American Field Service’s French Committee. She is currently a Director of the Senlis Museum of the Hunt.

Mr. David Carter, an American, has lived most of his life in France. For 38 years he worked in J. P. Morgan’s Paris office, retiring in 1994. M. Carter is a Harvard graduate (College and Business School) and a member (and Treasurer) of the Board of Governors of the American Hospital of Paris.

Sir. Roupen Gulbenk of Nashville, Tennessee is a noted USA authority on 17th and 18th century art and furniture. He has directed many restoration projects and recently chaired a significant Restoration Committee for the Governor’s Mansion of the State of Tennessee. Though retired, Mr. Gulbenk remains sought after as a consultant on restoration projects and as an appraiser of fine American furniture and art with historic value. He also serves as an officer of the St. Andrews Priory, Knights Templar.

Dr. Hamilton Hazlehurst received his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Princeton University. For over 25 years, he served as Chairman of the Vanderbilt University Department of Fine Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. His scholarly research has focused primarily on French art and architecture. He is the author of Gardens of Illusion: The Genius of Andre’ Le Notre, which received the Alice Davis Hitchcock Award of the Society of Architectural Historians. He was recently honored by the French government for chronicling Le Notre’s design of many historic chateau gardens.

Mrs. Candice L. Nancel works for the US Embassy in Paris, France. She is project manager for the restoration of the George C. Marshall Center in the Hotel de Talleyrand, a property of the State Department where official Embassy events are held. Mrs. Nancel was the Founding Director in France for the Christian Children’s Fund organization, Un Enfant Par La Main. Prior to that she held significant posts with the Paris Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Center Association.

Mr. Frederic Nancel is Director of Development and Operations for Château de Chantilly, France. He has over 20 years experience as a professional in the development and management of cultural and recreational projects; including construction and management of several projects for ACCOR, international hotel group. He also directed projects for the worldwide company, VIVENDI, serving as General Director of the Paris Colline de La Defense, including an Antique Car Museum and an Imax Theater.

Mrs. Vivian Woofter is Director, Interior and Furnishing Division, Overseas Building Operations, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC. She has served in that position since 1998. Responsibilities include directing a staff of 57 in three branches: Residential Design, (360 official residences world wide) Official Facilities, (currently over 100 in development) and Program Support, (provision and care of official chinaware, glassware and silver flatware). She also advises on the care of all Department of State owned antiques and high value reproductions world wide.