Sac History Happenings: In History's Spotlight: R. Burnett Miller

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

July 22, 2012

In History's Spotlight: R. Burnett Miller

Born: Sept. 2, 1923

Known for: Sacramento native R. Burnett Miller served as the city's mayor and on the City Council. He was one of the area residents featured in the recent Ken Burns documentary "The War" on PBS.

Background: Miller, whose father ran a lumber business, graduated from McClatchy High School. He was a college sophomore when World War II began. He served in the 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division, during the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. Miller earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He later went to Georgetown University before joining the family business. He served on the City Council from 1971 to 1977 and was appointed interim mayor in 1982, after Phil Isenberg was elected to the state Assembly. Miller, an arts lover, has raised funds for many local organizations, including Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Symphony and Sacramento History Center.

A highlight: Miller is the great-great grandson of Henry Burnett, who in 1865 founded the Telegraph Mill on Eighth and P streets. The business became Burnett & Sons Planing Mill & Lumber Co

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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