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Mary K. Burk Papers, circa 1897-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Burk, Mary K. -- (Mary Katherine), -- 1898-1979.
Title
Mary K. Burk Papers
Dates
circa 1897-1983 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 linear ft., (3 boxes)
Collection Number
XOE_SC0004BurkMK
Summary
The Mary K. Burk Papers consist of personal and family papers, as well as newspaper articles and clippings documenting people and activities in northern Whatcom County, Washington.
Repository
Western Washington University, Special Collections
Wilson 6th Floor
516 High Street MS9103
Bellingham WA
98225-9123
Telephone: (360) 650-3193
Fax: (360) 650-3044
speccoll@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Mary K. (Mary Katherine) Burk was a rural school teacher and administrator, dairy farmer, neighborhood chronicler, and tireless supporter of the grange movement in northwestern Washington State. Her father, Martin Burk, immigrated to the U. S. from Germany in 1880 and, in 1886, established a homestead in the Sunrise area of Whatcom County near the town of Lynden. In 1894, Martin married Marie Annette Mayer, and the couple went on to have five children. Mary Katherine was the third, born on November 13, 1898 in the log house on her family’s pioneer farm.

Mary attended the one-room Sunrise Grade School, followed by Lynden High School where she graduated in 1916. In 1918, she received an elementary teaching diploma from the Washington State Normal School at Bellingham (now Western Washington University). Over the next 23 years, Mary taught and served as principal in several rural Whatcom County schools including the North Star, Haynie Grange, and Sunshine schools.

After teaching, Mary began a 40-year career as a dairy farmer, independently managing a herd of Jersey cows. In 1920, she began submitting columns to the Lynden Tribune concerning happenings in the Sunrise/Delta area, an activity she continued for the next 57 years. She also contributed articles to the Bellingham Herald, the Ferndale Record, and the Blaine Journal. Much of her reporting focused on the Delta Grange, organized in 1926, which she served as secretary from 1929 to 1972. She also wrote about weddings, anniversaries, and the various activities of her family, friends, and neighbors.

In 1973, Mary Burk received the Gold Sheaf pin recognizing 50 years of continuous service to the Delta Grange. She was also a 50-year member of the Rebekah Lodge of Custer, Washington, a participant in activities of the Clam Diggers Association of descendants of county pioneers and the Whatcom County Old Settlers' Association, and a supporter of agricultural cooperatives such as the Western Farmers Association and Northwest Dairymen's Association.

Mary K. Burk, known to her extended family as "Aunt May," died in Bellingham, Wash., on June 7, 1979, at the age of 80.

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Content Description

The Mary K. Burk Papers date from around 1897 to 1983, and consist of Mary’s personal papers, family materials, and newspaper articles and clippings. The personal papers are comprised of correspondence, bank records, employment contracts, photographs, and memorabilia including World War II ration coupons and travel souvenirs. Burk family materials include census records, insurance and tax documents, estate materials, and stock certificates. The majority of the collection is comprised of newspaper clippings either written by or about Mary K. Burk, her family, their acquaintances, and other local interests including, in particular, the Delta Grange.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Material in the collection may be subject to copyright restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Mary K. Burk Papers, Special Collections, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The Mary K. Burk Papers are organized according to the following series arrangement:

  • Series I. Burk (Mary K.) personal papers, circa 1916-1977
  • Series II. Burk family papers, circa 1902-1978
  • Series III. Newspapers, circa 1960-1975

Acquisition Information

The collection was a gift of René Casebeer and Valla L. Burk Leide on behalf of the Burk family, October 2003.

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see our Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Whatcom County (Wash.) -- History -- Sources.

Personal Names

  • Burk, Mary K. -- (Mary Katherine), -- 1898-1979 -- Archives.

Corporate Names

  • Delta Grange (Whatcom County, Wash.) -- History -- Sources.

Finding aid prepared by Marian Alexander and re-engineered by Rozlind Koester.
2013

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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