Robert Burke, Historian, Connoisseur, Dies At 76

Robert E. Burke, a scholar who worked hard to put Northwest and California political and labor history on the map, is conspicuous by his absence from this week's annual meeting of the American Historical Association in Seattle.

He taught history at the University of Washington for 35 years, wrote books and edited Pacific Northwest Quarterly. Many of his former students are among the 3,000 meeting at Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Mr. Burke, head of the UW History Department from 1962 to 1967, died of cancer Tuesday (Jan. 6). He was 76.

"He made a difference in the Northwest as far as encouraging writers," said Betty Winfield, media director at the University of Missouri. "What a taskmaster and editor!"

His daughter, Elizabeth Burke of Seattle, called him a great mentor, wonderful father and generous spirit who seemed to fully enjoy every moment of his life.

"He used his talent," she said, "but all his free time was spent enjoying the arts. He didn't talk much about his work. He was humble, with a great, wry sense of humor. He preferred to talk about books, the arts, theater, cooking, the great achievements of humanity."

Carol Thomas, a history colleague, noted that his main interest was early 20th century California history.

"He was such a good editor," said Thomas. "From time to time I would ask him to read through something I had written on Greek history, for his editing skills, his knowledge of prose, and the clarity of his comments."

Born in Chico, Calif., Mr. Burke became interested in politics and labor while growing up during the Depression.

"A bust of (late president Franklin) Roosevelt always stood in his office at the UW and looked out at the students," said UW history colleague Richard Johnson.

After military service in World War II, Mr. Burke earned a bachelor's degree in history at California State University, Chico, in 1946. He then earned a master's degree and a doctorate in history at the University of California at Berkeley.

Mr. Burke taught history at the University of Hawaii in the mid-1950s, then joined the UW faculty in 1957. He retired in 1991.

He wrote three American-history textbooks, among other works. He helped establish the Pacific Northwest Historians Guild, a bridge between academic and community historians, in the early 1980s. And he was an authority on labor history. He was often sought as a consultant on films and books.

As head of the manuscripts department of the University of California's Bancroft Library Project from 1951 to 1956, he spent a year in England doing research. He developed a fondness for all things British, and traveled there and in Europe later to attend concerts and operas.

"Bob was someone who enjoyed life, loved friends, and never saw a restaurant he didn't like," said Johnson.

Other survivors include his sister, Ralpha Steele of Concord, Calif., and his brother, Frank Scarborough of Maryville, Ill. His first wife, Helen Burke, to whom he was married 24 years, died in 1976. His second wife, Edith Burke, died in 1995.

He requested no services be held. Remembrances may go to the Robert E. Burke Prize Fund in History, c/o College of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Box 353765, WA, 98195.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbee-new@seatimes.com