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Helen E. Burbank

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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

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 Industry.[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 Industry'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

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

  1. ^ a b American Women.
  2. ^ a b "St. Johnsbury Locals".
  3. ^ "Local News: Montpelier".
  4. ^ "Happenings in Vermont".
  5. ^ "Names Woman Deputy".
  6. ^ a b c d "Miss Burbank Named".
  7. ^ a b "Howard Armstrong Sworn In As New Secretary of State".
  8. ^ "Miss Burbank Returning from Boston Hospital Today".
  9. ^ "Secretary of State Burbank Back at Desk".
  10. ^ "Helen Burbank Not to Run".
  11. ^ "Vt. Legislative Council to Hold Clinic Monday".
  12. ^ a b "Miss Jeanne Rousse Succeeds Helen Burbank as Deputy".
  13. ^ a b "Cooley Given Firsthand Look at New Job".
  14. ^ "The Vermont Free Press".
  15. ^ "For Secretary of State".
  16. ^ "State Luncheon Planned by GOP Women".
  17. ^ a b c "Ex-Secretary of State Helen Burbank Dies".
  18. ^ a b "Two Former Secretaries of State May Aid Thomas".
  19. ^ a b "Vermont Death Index, 1981-2001".

Sources

Books

  • 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

Internet

Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Vermont
1947–1949 		Succeeded by
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