James H. Buford Collection

Collection

Identifier: A3374

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection includes certificates, event programs, newspaper clippings, and correspondence relating primarily to the career and civic leadership of James H. Buford with a few items about his parents and sister. The collection is arranged alphabetically by topic and dates from circa 1955 to 2020. A large part of the correspondence files contains congratulations upon announcements of Buford’s 2012 Citizen of the Year Award and his 2013 retirement from the Urban Lague of Metropolitan St. Louis. There are also letters relating to his various appointments on boards and commissions. There are three letters from White House during the Reagan Administration; one with a personal note signed by Elizabeth Dole (18 March 1981) and two signed by Ronald Reagan (23 July and14 August 1981). The only letter not addressed to Buford is an invitation sent to Helen Buford upon James’s 1997 Lifetime Achievement Award (18 Aug 1997) and includes the notecards she used for her remarks at the awards dinner. The biography folder includes biographies of Buford supplied to various people and organizations. It also contains Buford’s obituaries and posthumous tributes. Other biographical sources include the 1994 Slaughter’s Cleaners calendar featuring prominent St. Louis African Americans (Buford is February) and the “St. Louis Game Changer” series in a Jackie and Me program (Metro Theater Company, p.18). There are many certificates and proclamations awarded to Buford (B1/f.2, oversize). They date from 1978 to a posthumous proclamation in 2020. There are several certificates which commemorate Buford’s appointments to state boards and commissions in addition to certificates of appreciation and special awards from various organizations. There are two commemorative presidential inauguration invitations: 1997 Clinton/Gore, 2009 Obama/Biden (B1/f.16). It is unclear if Buford attended either event or worked with the campaigns. There are various files for local organizations, such as Better Together (B1/f.4) and miscellaneous event programs (B1/f.15). The few items relating to Buford’s family include a folder about his sister, Carol (B2/f.1) and scattered newspaper clippings.

Dates

1955-2020
Majority of material found within 1990-2015

Creator

Buford, James H., 1944-2019 (Collector, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Extent

0.77 Cubic Feet (2 boxes, 1 oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The collection was donated by Susan Buford in 2023 and 2024 (accession numbers 2023-153, 2023-187, 2024-060, 2024-061).

Related Materials

See also Photo and Prints Department and Still and Moving Images Department.

Biographical Note

James Henry Buford was born in St. Louis on 2 June 1944 to James H. (1916-1969) and Myrtle M. Buford (1918-1997). The Buford’s also had one daughter, Carol Jean Johnson (1940-1995). James graduated from Laboure High School and earned an Associate of Art degree at Forest Park Community College in 1969. He also earned a degree in Human Services Administration from Elizabethtown College in 1980. James and his first wife Helen had two sons: James, Jr. and Jason. After Helen’s untimely death in 1999, James subsequently married his second wife, Susan Buford. He died in St. Louis at age 75 on November 28, 2019. Buford started his professional career in St. Louis. He was the program coordinator for the 70001 Program at Forest Park Community College. From 1976 to 1980, Buford was national director of program development and vice president for 70001 Limited (Wilmington, DE). From 1980 to 1981, he was senior vice president at International Management and Development Group, Ltd. In 1981, Gov. Christopher Bond appointed him executive vice president and chief operating officer for Job for Missouri Graduates, Inc. In 1985, Burford began his 28-year career as leader of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; he retired in 2013. In 1979, Buford was executive assistant to Senator Howard Baker’s campaign manager during the Baker for President campaign. President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the National Advisory Council for Vocational Education in 1985. President George H. W. Bush appointed Buford to his Personal Advisory Committee in 1989 and to the U. S. Department of Agriculture Citizens Advisory Committee for Equal Opportunity in 1990. As a civic leader, Buford served on greater than twenty boards and commissions, including gubernatorial appointments. He received numerous awards including the 1997 St. Louis Gateway Classic Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2008 Human Dignity Award presented by the YMCA of Greater St. Louis, and the 2012 St. Louis Post Dispatch Citizen of the Year Award.