Elvena Burke (1897 - 1978)

Elvena's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Burke family tree.

Elvena's Family

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We currently do not have photos of Elvena Burke. Below are potential family photos that share Elvena's last name or surname. Pictures really do say a thousand words. Add photos of Elvena during various points of their life

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Ellen Burke -b1834

Added: May 19, 2020

Elva Neff and Ruth Burke

Added: Aug 24, 2019

Larry & Peggy Burke Wedding

Added: Jul 24, 2019

Edwin J Burke Family

Added: Jul 24, 2019

Edwin J and Rose Burke

Added: Jul 24, 2019

Rose and Edwin J Burke

Added: Jul 24, 2019

J D Burke

Added: Jul 29, 2018

Patsy Kelly and Billie Burke

Added: May 23, 2018

Fathers Burke and Murray

Added: Apr 14, 2018

Fannie Cooke

Added: Mar 07, 2018

Peter Perkins Burke?

Added: Feb 10, 2017

High School graduation class, 1913

Added: Sep 26, 2016

Sandy Burke

Added: Sep 07, 2016

Sherry Kay Burke

Added: Apr 24, 2016

Harry Burke (Bjork)

Added: Nov 11, 2015

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Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Elvena's lifetime

In 1897, in the year that Elvena Burke was born, on July 17th, the Klondike Gold Rush began when the first successful prospectors returned to Seattle after mining in the Yukon. They arrived on the ships Excelsior and Portland, bringing vast quantities of gold - over $32,000,000 in today's money - and everyone rushed to become rich in the Yukon.

In 1931, at the age of 34 years old, Elvena was alive when in March, “The Star Spangled Banner” officially became the national anthem by congressional resolution. Other songs had previously been used - among them, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "God Bless America", and "America the Beautiful". There was fierce debate about making "The Star Spangled Banner" the national anthem - Southerners and veterans organizations supported it, pacifists and educators opposed it.

In 1949, Elvena was 52 years old when comedian Milton Berle hosted the first telethon show. It raised $1,100,000 for cancer research and lasted 16 hours. The next day, newspapers, in writing about the event, first used the word "telethon."

In 1950, Elvena was 53 years old when in February, Joe McCarthy gave a speech alleging that he had a list of "members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring" who worked in the State Department. He went on to chair a committee that investigated not only the State Department but also the administration of President Harry S. Truman, the Voice of America, and the U.S. Army for communist spies - until he was condemned by the U.S. Senate in 1954.

In 1978, in the year of Elvena Burke's passing, on November 18th, Jim Jones's Peoples Temple followers committed mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana - where they had moved, from San Francisco, as a group. Jones was the leader of the cult and ordered his followers to drink cyanide-laced punch, which they did. Whole families (women and children included) died - more than 900 people in all.