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had been fighting and preparing for this moment over the summer, they became very enraged when they discovered the news of Burn's decision. Contrary to popular belief, Burn was not chased out of the capitol by an angry mob of anti-suffragists. But the anti-suffrage forces accused him of bribery and a
245:
Burn had originally intended to vote for the amendment. After being pressured by party leaders and receiving misleading telegrams from his constituents telling him his district was overwhelmingly opposed to woman suffrage, he began to side with the
Antisuffragists. However, a letter from his mother
237:
on June 4, 1919. The amendment could not become law without the ratification of a minimum thirty-six of the forty-eight states. By the summer of 1920, thirty-five of the forty-eight states had ratified the amendment, with a further four states called upon to hold legislative voting sessions on the
287:
After much debating and argument, the result of the vote was 48-48. After Burn voted twice to "table" the amendment, the house speaker called for a vote on the "merits". Burn followed his mother's advice and voted "aye". His vote broke the tie in favor of ratifying the amendment. He responded to
213:), Burn was the oldest of four children of James Lafayette Burn (1866–1916) and Febb Ensminger Burn (1873–1945). His father was the stationmaster at the Niota depot, and an entrepreneur in the community. His mother worked as a teacher after her graduation from U.S. Grant Memorial University (now
288:
attacks on his integrity and honor by inserting a personal statement into the House
Journal, explaining his decision to cast the vote in part because "I knew that a mother’s advice is always safest for a boy to follow, and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification."
374:, a musical about the ratification of the 19th Amendment in Tennessee, premiered in 2016 after its original version had a limited run in 2014; Harry Burn, his mother Febb, and his younger brother Jack, are major characters. The play was performed again in 2020.
246:
asking him to vote in favor of the amendment helped to change his mind: Febb
Ensminger Burn of Niota had written a long letter to her son, which he held in his coat pocket during the voting session on August 18, 1920. The letter contained the following:
217:). She later ran the family farm. Burn's siblings were James Lane "Jack" (1897–1955), Sara Margaret (1903–1914), and Otho Virginia (1906–1968). Burn graduated from Niota High School in 1911. He worked for the Southern Railway from 1913 to 1923.
327:
While serving in the state senate and as constitutional convention delegate, Burn advocated for universal suffrage in
Tennessee. In the aftermath of election fraud in his district, he helped to draft clean election laws for the
256:
Hurrah and vote for
Suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt. I noticed Chandlers' speech, it was very bitter. I’ve been watching to see how you stood but have not seen anything yet ... Don't forget to be a good boy and help
238:
issue. Three of those states refused to call special sessions, but
Tennessee agreed to do so. This session was called to meet in August 1920. The effort to pass the legislation in the House was led by Joe Hanover.
797:
351:
He was briefly married to
Mildred Rebecca Tarwater from 1933 to 1935. He married Ellen Folsom Cottrell (1908–1998) in 1937. The couple had one child, Harry T. Burn Jr. (1937–2016).
348:
Burn was a member of several civic and fraternal organizations, including the
National Society Sons of the American Revolution, serving as President-General for the 1964–1965 term.
296:
grand jury was called to investigate the accusations. Burn narrowly won reelection to a second term in the house after a grueling campaign back home in McMinn County.
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197:. Burn became the youngest member of the state legislature when he was elected at the age of twenty-two. He is best remembered for action taken to ratify the
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552:"Personal letter from Febb Burn to son, Tennessee legislator Henry Burn, recommending a vote in favor of women's suffrage"
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of 1953, 1959, 1965, and 1971. Burn ran unsuccessfully for the
Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1930.
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with her "Rats." Is she the one that put rat in ratification, Ha! No more from mama this time.
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738:"Tennessee Statesman Harry T. Burn: Woman suffrage, free elections, and a life of service"
8:
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Burn's great-grandnephew, Tyler L. Boyd, wrote a comprehensive biography of Burn, called
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258:
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Tennessee
Statesman Harry T. Burn: Woman suffrage, free elections, and a life of service
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Tennessee Statesman Harry T. Burn: Woman suffrage, free elections, and a life of service
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Tennessee Statesman Harry T. Burn: Woman suffrage, free elections, and a life of service
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and Burn were two critical votes that ultimately tipped the balance to ratification.
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424:"A mother's letter, a son's choice, and the incredible moment women won the vote"
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189:(November 12, 1895 – February 19, 1977) was a Republican member of the
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Burn held public office for much of his adult life, including positions in the
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Photo of Burn taken the year he first took seat in the Tennessee legislature
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390:, with the letter he received from his mother being portrayed in a number.
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345:. In 1951, he became President of the First National Bank in Rockwood.
312:, 1948–1952; state planning commission, 1952–1970; and as delegate for
732:. Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection. Knox County Public Library.
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In 1923, Burn was admitted to the Tennessee Bar and practiced law in
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Republican Party members of the Tennessee House of Representatives
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32:
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624:"Tennessee ratifies amendment giving women of U.S. vote".
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Burn is portrayed by Peter Berinato in the 2004 film
546:
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680:"The nineteenth amendment and the war of the roses"
500:"The nineteenth amendment and the war of the roses"
633:"Decisive action taken today in suffrage battle".
707:. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press.
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477:. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press.
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531:"West Tennessee's role in women's right to vote"
73:Tennessee House of Representatives
669:"Burn changed vote on advice of his mother".
664:. Vol. 14, no. 101. 20 August 1920.
655:. Vol. 14, no. 102. 21 August 1920.
646:. Vol. 14, no. 100. 19 August 1920.
637:. Vol. 14, no. 102. 21 August 1920.
628:. Vol. 104, no. 50. 19 August 1920.
619:. Vol. 14, no. 100. 19 August 1920.
610:. Vol. 14, no. 100. 19 August 1920.
606:"Battle began for suffrage many years ago".
577:begins performances 7/29 at Barter Theatre"
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201:during his first term in the legislature.
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793:Republican Party Tennessee state senators
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615:"Suffrage Amendment Adopted by House".
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642:"New election laws may be necessary".
529:Thornton, Lasherica (15 August 2020).
384:Burn is portrayed in the 2022 musical
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660:"Word from mother won for suffrage".
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808:20th-century American businesspeople
778:People from McMinn County, Tennessee
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472:
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818:20th-century Tennessee politicians
156:Mildred Tarwater (1933–1935, div.)
14:
829:
803:20th-century American legislators
722:
422:Mettler, Katie (10 August 2020).
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703:Boyd, Tyler L. (5 August 2019).
473:Boyd, Tyler L. (5 August 2019).
354:Burn died at his home in Niota.
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678:Heirs, Cheryl (8 August 2001).
506:. Nashville, TN. Archived from
565:
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306:State House of Representatives
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813:20th-century American lawyers
783:Businesspeople from Tennessee
651:"The case of Harry T. Burn".
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215:Tennessee Wesleyan University
283:Febb Burn at her Niota farm.
7:
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318:constitutional conventions
191:Tennessee General Assembly
158:Ellen Cottrell (1937–1977)
381:, and published in 2019.
209:Born in Mouse Creek (now
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684:BlueShoe Nashville Guide
662:The Nashville Tennessean
653:The Nashville Tennessean
644:The Nashville Tennessean
635:The Nashville Tennessean
267:With lots of love, Mama.
195:McMinn County, Tennessee
79:McMinn County, Tennessee
205:Childhood and education
498:Hiers, Cheryl (2009).
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119:Mouse Creek, Tennessee
671:The Commercial Appeal
626:The Commercial Appeal
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187:Harry Thomas Burn Sr.
54:from the 7th district
617:Nashville Tennessean
608:Nashville Tennessean
227:Nineteenth Amendment
199:Nineteenth Amendment
174:James Lafayette Burn
166:Harry Thomas Burn Jr
690:on 13 February 2018
573:"World premiere of
510:on 13 February 2018
429:The Washington Post
176:Febb King Ensminger
16:American politician
742:Arcadia Publishing
504:BlueShoe Nashville
358:In popular culture
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259:Mrs. ‘Thomas Catt’
233:, was proposed by
788:Tennessee lawyers
714:978-1-4671-4318-9
673:. 20 August 1920.
484:978-1-4671-4318-9
365:Iron Jawed Angels
316:to the Tennessee
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129:February 19, 1977
116:November 12, 1895
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211:Niota, Tennessee
136:Niota, Tennessee
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101:Personal details
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50:Tennessee Senate
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561:. 11 July 1920.
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583:. 23 July 2014
581:Broadway World
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133:(aged 81)
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753:Find a Grave
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692:. Retrieved
688:the original
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587:23 September
585:. Retrieved
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575:Winter Wheat
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240:Banks Turner
229:, regarding
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131:(1977-02-19)
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773:1977 deaths
768:1895 births
535:Jackson Sun
762:Categories
394:References
343:Sweetwater
275:The letter
250:Dear Son:
147:Republican
112:1895-11-12
435:10 August
171:Parent(s)
153:Spouse(s)
92:1918–1922
88:In office
77:from the
65:1948–1952
61:In office
339:Rockwood
235:Congress
163:Children
81:district
600:Sources
711:
694:8 June
514:8 June
481:
328:state.
138:, U.S.
121:, U.S.
555:(PDF)
387:Suffs
709:ISBN
696:2006
589:2018
516:2006
479:ISBN
437:2020
341:and
264:...
253:...
225:The
193:for
126:Died
106:Born
751:at
409:at
291:As
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
