Vincent Godfrey Burns papers

Vincent Godfrey Burns, a Congregationalist minister (ordained 1920) and Poet Laureate of Maryland (appointed 1962), was born on October 17, 1893 in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Penn State in 1916 and with a Masters from Harvard University the following year. Moreover, he held a divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary (1922) and did postgraduate work at Columbia from 1922-1924.

Following his education at Harvard, Burns served during World War One as a Staff Officer in the Field Artillery in France. Upon returning home, he commenced his theological training and was ordained in 1920 as a Minister in the Congregational Church in New England. He was married to Edna Rodenberger on June 15, 1924 and had a daughter, Barbara "Bobbie" Burns, by this first marriage. Burns was active in congregations throughout New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts from 1920 through the 1930's. At some point in the 1930's, however, he broke with the Church on theological principles. He tried unsuccessfully to be restored to the ministry in 1941, in order that he might join the Army Chaplains Reserve Corps.

While a minister in Pallisades, New Jersey, Burns co-authored his best known literary work, "I Am A Fugitive From A Georgia Chain Gang", published in 1932. The story is based on his brother's treatment while incarcerated in a Georgia prison. The story was made into a movie starring Paul Muni, and later Burns wrote a sequel entitled, "The Man Who Broke A Thousand Chains" (1968). In addition to novels, Burns wrote several plays and volumes of poetry throughout the 1930's and 1940's. Moreover, he hosted a radio health show which ran under the titles, Voice of Chiropractic, The Chiropractor's Broadcast, and The Keep Smiling Program.

In 1951, Burns moved to Epping Forest in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. He continued writing and in 1962, Governor Tawes appointed him the second Poet Laureate of Maryland. Burns' appointment proved controversial with time and attempts to fire him were repeatedly launched. His poetry, which is extremely patriotic and religious in tone, was well received by only some members of the community. Many other individuals and several publishing houses rejected Burns' poetry and found his conservative, anti-communist, moralistic, anti-Semitic tendencies displeasing. As poet laureate, Burns visited schools, attended speaking engagements, and published a poetry magazine known as the Rainbow.

Burns died at home in Epping Forest on February 3, 1979. He was survived by a former wife, Katherine H. Barker whom he married in 1945 and who divorced him in 1967. His two sons from that marriage, Vincent Howard Burns (fl.1979) and Vincent David Burns (fl.1979), also survived him.