Contrary to popular belief, Burn did not
vote “no” on the amendment. Rather, he
only voted to table it. The letter from his
mother was not a letter of admonishment,
but of motherly advice. The most popular
myth of all is the story of the angry mob of
Anti-suffragists that chased Burn out of the
Capitol as he feared for his life.
Until Boyd completed his research, the
remainder of Burn’s life and career (which
lasted into the 1970s) remained unexplored.
Burn served in the state senate and as
a delegate to four state constitutional
conventions. He was an unsuccessful
candidate for governor in 1930. He helped
to secure universal suffrage in Tennessee,
drafted clean election laws, and led
successful careers in law and banking. He
voted to ratify not one, but three different
federal constitutional amendments. Burn,
McMinn County’s most famous resident,
understood the impact that local and state
government have on our everyday lives.
The impact of his accomplishments is still
evident today.
Burn’s accomplishments during his time in
the legislature include securing legislation
to improve the roads in McMinn County,
incorporate Englewood, and build a new
building for McMinn County High School in
Athens. He caused uproar over his attempt
to expand the city limits in his beloved
Niota. Although Burn lived much of his life
in Sweetwater and Rockwood, he always
Harry T. Burn
Tyler L. Boyd
came home to Niota on the
weekends. He passed away
in his Niota home in 1977.
Boyd’s book, “Tennessee
Statesman Harry T. Burn:
Woman Suffrage, Free
Elections, and a Life of
Service,” will be available
on August 5th. The History
Press, an imprint of
Arcadia Publishing, is the
publisher. The book can
be purchased on www.
arcadiapublishing.com
and will be sold in several
bookstores and museums
across the state.
FALL 2019 McMINN LIFE 11
/arcadiapublishing.com