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.
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]
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]