Eva was born in Oregon in March 1875 to Mary E. Perry and Orlando Riley Burbank. Both Eva’s parents were native of Oregon. Eva’s full siblings included Ira Eli Burbank (born in Oregon about 1876) and William “Matthew” Burbank (Oregon about 1878).

Eva’s parents divorced and her father remarried in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon on 3/4/1879. During the census of 1880, Eva was living with her mother in the home of Mary’s own mother and step-father, James Price. The family lived in Springfield, Lane County, Oregon and included Eva’s maternal uncles William L., Warren G., and James L. Perry (all born in Oregon). Before living in Lane County, the family lived in Rickreal, Polk County, Oregon. In 1800 Eva’s father was living in Polk County with his new wife, 19 year old Elizabeth Ellen Tice who was born in Oregon. Eva’s brother Ira and Matthew were living with them. They were in the home of Orlando’s mother, Sabrina, and his step-father Nathaniel Craven.

By 1/18/1899 Eva was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She had epilepsy which developed about 1890 when she was in her early 20s.

The hospital records for Eva were limited and the data they provided was mixed. In the census of June 1900, “May Burbank” was listed in the state hospital and records said she was born in March 1876 in Oregon. The locations of her parents’ births were “unknown.” During the census of 1910 she was still listed among the residence of the state hospital. At that time the staff indicated Eva and her parents were born in Oregon and Eva was about 34 (born about 1876). According to Eva’s death certificate she was born about 1879 and the state hospital had no records of her birth date, birth place, or parents’ names. She was said to be single and living in Multnomah County, Oregon before entering the asylum.

She died of a sustained seizure at the institution on 1/10/1918. Her father died in 1929 and is buried in Polk County, Oregon. Brother William married at least three times and died in Portland on 5/1/1943. Brother Ira died in California on 8/21/1951. It is believed Eva’s full brothers had no biological children. Eva’s cremated remains were not intially taken after her death and were available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who was related. In September 2015 members of her extended family were successful in claiming her ashes. Together the family buried Eva beside her father.

More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.