Helen E. Burbank
Helen E. Burbank (July 27, 1898—February 22, 1981) was a career public servant in Vermont. She was the longtime Deputy Secretary of State, and served for over a year as Secretary of State of Vermont after she was appointed to fill a vacancy.
Biography[edit]
Helen Elizabeth Burbank was born in Otego, New York on July 27, 1898, the daughter of Horace J. Burbank (1869-1914) and Edith L. Wicks (1866-1950).[1] She was raised in Vermont, and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy.[1]
Burbank was initially employed in the office of the Vermont Commissioner of Industries.[2] During World War I, Burbank was the personal assistant for the Vermont director of the United States Employment Service.[2] After the war, she was employed at a Montpelier insurance agency, and then returned to the Vermont Commissioner of Industries's office as a stenographer.[3]
In August 1920, Burbank accepted a position in the office of the Secretary of State of Vermont.[4] In 1927, the incumbent Secretary, Rawson C. Myrick, appointed her as his deputy.[5] Burbank served as Deputy Secretary of State until 1947.[6]
In August, 1947, Myrick resigned.[6] Ernest W. Gibson Jr., then serving as Governor of Vermont, requested that Burbank continue the functions of the secretary's office while remaining as deputy; she agreed.[6] In October, Gibson appointed Burbank to fill the Secretary's position,[6] and she served until January, 1949.[7] Burbank spent several weeks in the hospital at the end of 1947 and beginning of 1948,[8][9] and declined to be a candidate for Secretary of State in the 1948 election.[10]
In 1948, Republican Howard E. Armstrong ran successfully for Secretary of State.[11] Upon succeeding Burbank in January, 1949, Armstrong reappointed Burbank as Deputy Secretary of State.[7] She continued to serve as deputy until December, 1965.[12]
In 1964, Harry H. Cooley was elected as part of that year's nationwide Democratic landslide and became the first Democrat to win the Secretary of State's post.[13] He took office in January, 1965;[13] in December, he decided to employ a deputy of his own choosing, and relieved Burbank of her duties.[12] She was subsequently employed by the Vermont Legislative Council.[14] Burbank was mentioned as a candidate for Secretary of State in 1966;[15] she remained active in Republican politics as a local and county committee member and delegate to party conventions, but made no effort to run.[16][17]
In 1968, Republican Richard C. Thomas won the Secretary of State's position.[18] He employed Armstrong and Burbank on a consulting basis at the start of his eight-year tenure.[18]
Death and burial[edit]
In retirement, Burbank continued to reside in Montpelier.[17] She died in Berlin on February 22, 1981.[17][19] Burbank was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in St. Johnsbury.[19]
References[edit]
- ^ a b American Women.
- ^ a b "St. Johnsbury Locals".
- ^ "Local News: Montpelier".
- ^ "Happenings in Vermont".
- ^ "Names Woman Deputy".
- ^ a b c d "Miss Burbank Named".
- ^ a b "Howard Armstrong Sworn In As New Secretary of State".
- ^ "Miss Burbank Returning from Boston Hospital Today".
- ^ "Secretary of State Burbank Back at Desk".
- ^ "Helen Burbank Not to Run".
- ^ "Vt. Legislative Council to Hold Clinic Monday".
- ^ a b "Miss Jeanne Rousse Succeeds Helen Burbank as Deputy".
- ^ a b "Cooley Given Firsthand Look at New Job".
- ^ "The Vermont Free Press".
- ^ "For Secretary of State".
- ^ "State Luncheon Planned by GOP Women".
- ^ a b c "Ex-Secretary of State Helen Burbank Dies".
- ^ a b "Two Former Secretaries of State May Aid Thomas".
- ^ a b "Vermont Death Index, 1981-2001".
Sources[edit]
Books[edit]
- American Women: The Official Who's Who Among the Women of the Nation. Vol. 1–3. Los Angeles, CA: Richard Blank Publishing Company. 1935. p. 127.
Newspapers[edit]
- "Local News: Montpelier". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. October 12, 1918. p. 3.
- "St. Johnsbury Locals". St. Johnsbury Caledonian. St. Johnsbury, VT. October 15, 1919. p. 4.
- "Happenings in Vermont". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. August 12, 1920. p. 10.
- "Names Woman Deputy: Myrick Appoints Helen Burbank Deputy Secretary of State". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. May 13, 1927. p. 2.
- "Miss Burbank Named Vermont's First Woman Secretary of State". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. October 16, 1947. p. 2.
- "Miss Burbank Returning from Boston Hospital Today". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. Morning Press Bureau. December 9, 1947. p. 4.
- "Secretary of State Burbank Back at Desk in Capitol". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. Morning Press Bureau. January 13, 1948. p. 8.
- "Helen Burbank Not to Run for State Secretary". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. Morning Press Bureau. February 25, 1948. p. 10.
- "Vt. Legislative Council to Hold Clinic Monday". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. November 6, 1948. p. 4.
- "Howard Armstrong Sworn In As New Secretary of State". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. January 7, 1949. p. 2.
- "Cooley Given Firsthand Look at New Job". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. November 10, 1964. p. 18.
- "Miss Jeanne Rousse Succeeds Helen Burbank as Deputy". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. December 14, 1965. p. 5.
- "State Luncheon Planned by GOP Women". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. February 4, 1966. p. 6.
- "For Secretary of State: Backing for Helen Burbank is Reported Gaining Support". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. March 10, 1966. p. 8.
- "The Vermont Free Press: Questions and Answers". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. March 6, 1967. p. 7.
- "Two Former Secretaries of State May Aid Thomas". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. Free Press Capitol Bureau. November 14, 1968. p. 15.
- "Ex-Secretary of State Helen Burbank Dies". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. February 24, 1981. p. 4.
Internet[edit]
- "Vermont Death Index, 1981-2001, Entry for Helen E. Burbank". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. Retrieved January 31, 2017.