Ina Watson and Leyton Jones donated the John Davis Buckner papers to the Western Historical Manuscript Collection at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on January 9, 1984.
John Buckner was born August 31, 1922, the only son of historian and educator Julia Davis. He graduated from Sumner High School in 1939. Buckner attended Stowe Teachers' College (renamed Harris-Stowe College in 1979) where he became the first male graduate in 1942. Buckner did graduate work at Northwestern University, the State University of Iowa, and Columbia University's Teacher College.
Buckner spent the rest of his life as an educator. From January 1943 to June 1960, he served on Sumner High School's faculty as a mathematics teacher, mathematics department chairman, and an advisor to students in a high achievers program. In 1960 Buckner joined the Superintendent's office of St. Louis Public Schools as a general consultant and supervisor of secondary education. At his own request, he returned to the Sumner faculty in 1964. Buckner became the school's principal in 1968, the first native St. Louisan and Sumner graduate to do so. He held the position until 1971. At the time of his death, Buckner worked as a curriculum specialist with St. Louis Public Schools.
A list of Buckner's affiliations with civic and fraternal organizations included: the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; the Boy Scouts of America; the Ferrier-Harris Home for the Aged; the Young Men's Christian Association; and the Annie Malone Children's Home. An active member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity from 1942-1977, Buckner served as its president in the 1950s, as well as its National Life Membership Chairman until 1975. He also chaired the fraternity's Sixtieth Anniversary Convention held in St. Louis in 1966.
Buckner sat on the Board of Directors of the Annie Malone Children's Home for many years. He chaired the Home's annual May Day celebrations during the 1960s. Then in January 1975, Buckner became the President of the Home's Board of Directors.
Buckner's other activities included membership on the Freedom of Residence Committee; the Board of Managers for the YMCA'S junior kindergarten; and the Equal Opportunity Committee of the Human Development Corporation, Inc. He served as chairman of HDC during 1974 and 1975. Also, the St. Louis Argus chose Buckner as toastmaster for its
Distinguished Public Service Awards Banquet eight times from 1967-1977.
John D. Buckner died on July 17, 1977. He had recently returned to St. Louis from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he had attended the Seventh World Council of the YMCA as a delegate.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The John Davis Buckner Papers, 1875-1981, document his activities as a community leader in St. Louis. Three series comprise the collection: 1) Personal Papers, 1875-1981; 2) Annie Malone Children's Home Records, 1962-1978; and 3) Photographs and Artifacts, 1954-1975.
The personal papers series reflects Buckner's work with a variety of civic, fraternal, and educational organizations. It contains information on: the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; the Boy Scouts of America; the Ferrier-Harris Home for the Aged; the Freedom of Residence Committee; St. Paul's AME Church; Sumner High School; the YMCA; the United Fund of Greater St. Louis, Inc.; and Homer G. Phillips Hospital.
Series two documents Buckner's service on the Board of Directors of the Annie Malone Children's Home. Topics covered include Camp Wonderland, a group home for girls, May Day celebrations, a children's library, and finances.
Photographs and artifacts comprise series three. This series includes photos of the Freedom of Residence Committee, Annie Malone Children's Home May Day Parade, Sumner High School's 100th anniversary, and the Pan Hellenic Council. The photos picture John Buckner, Julia Davis, Ruth Porter, John Bass, and Dick Gregory. The artifacts folder contains buttons and tags from Annie Malone Children's Home.
Some material from Buckner's papers has been removed and placed in other relevant collections. A newsclipping was placed in the Mathews Dickey Boys' Club Records, collection 189. A genealogy of the George Stevens' family and a Women's Day pamphlet was integrated into George F. Stevens "History of the Central Baptist Church, 1846-1926," collection 28. Additional information on some organizations can be found in the following: Freedom of Residence, Greater St. Louis Committee, collection 438; the Black History Project, collection 201; and Afro-Americans in St. Louis, collection 36.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
SERIES 1 - PERSONAL PAPERS, 1875-1981, FOLDERS 1-94
Arranged alphabetically. Includes awards, budgets, correspondence, minutes, programs, reports, newsletters, a history of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, and xeroxed copies of Sumner and Vashon High Schools' yearbooks. Civic and fraternal organizations represented include: the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; the Boy Scouts of America; the Ferrier-Harris Home for the Aged; the Homer G. Phillips Hospital; the Freedom of Residence Committee; the United Fund of Greater St. Louis, Inc.; and the YMCA.
SERIES 2 - ANNIE MALONE CHILDREN'S HOME RECORDS, 1962-1978, FOLDERS 95-116
In alphabetical order. Contains annual reports, an affirmative action plan, a constitution, audit reports, financial statements, Board of Directors' meeting minutes, and a 1971 "Mutual Care Home" grant proposal.
SERIES 3 - PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTIFACTS, 1954-1975, #12294-12307,
FOLDERS 117-121
Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes Freedom of Residence (# 12294 - 12297); Annie Malone Children's Home (#1298-12299); Pan Hellenic Council (#12300-12302); and Sumner High School's 100th anniversary (#12303-12307). Folder 121 contains artifacts from Annie Malone Children's Home.
FOLDER LIST
BOX 1
SERIES 1 - PERSONAL PAPERS
1. Alpha Phi Alpha Building Foundation, Inc., 1970
2. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Epsilon Lambda Chapter-Awards, 1958-1975
3. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Epsilon Lambda Chapter-Budgets, 1958-1961
4. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Epsilon Lambda Chapter-Constitution, 1971-1976
5. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Epsilon Lambda Chapter-Life Membership Committee, 1974
6. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Epsilon Lambda Chapter-Meeting Minutes and Notices, 1950-1976
7. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Epsilon Lambda Chapter, Newsletters, 1961-1965
8. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Epsilon Lamdba Chapter, Programs, 1961-1979
9. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Midwestern Regional Convention, 1965
10. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, St. Louis American, August 16, 1966
11. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 60th Anniversity Convention in St. Louis, 1966
12. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 25 Year Certificate, 1967 and Buckner Article in The Sphinx, 1975
13. Josephine Baker's Speech, St. Louis, Feb. 3, 1952
14. Boy Scouts of America, Mark Twain District, 1965-1966
15. George Dennis Brantley Scholarship Fund, Inc., 1968
16. Buckner's Stationery, Note, and Personal Letter, N.D.
17. Central Association of Science and Mathematics Teachers Inc., 1963
18. Citizens Committee for the Betterment of Kinloch, 1964
19. Clay, Congressman William, Speech, c. 1970
20. Commission on Equal Educational Opportunities, 1971-1973
21. Julia Davis, Bibilography and Correspondence, 1975
22. Julia Davis' Speech, "Apple from the Teacher Award," Feb. 20, 1969
23. Election Literature, John Bass, 1975
24. Ferrier-Harris Home for the Aged, Financial Reports, Annual Reports, and Constitution, 1975
25. "Fair Housing," Reports, 1965
26. "Fair Housing Week," Flyer, 1963
27. Freedom of Residence Committee, Correspondence, 1963-1968
28. Freedom of Residence Committee, Ruth Porter, 1964-1981
29. Freedom of Residence Committee, Statement of Purpose, Newsletter, and Incorporation, 1963-1964
30. Freedom of Residence-Statements, Notes, 1964-1965
31. Freedom of Residence-Proposal to Realty Co., c. 1981
32. Freedom of Residence, Newsclippings, 1962-1973
33. Granberry Recreation Summer Program, 1976
34. Human Development Corporation of St. Louis, Newsletter and Booklet, 1967, 1975
35. Missouri State Teachers Association, 1965, 1973
36. Mitchell, Nannie (Turner), 1965-1976
37. National Conference to Prevent Juvenile Delinquencies, 1954
38. Office of Economic Opportunity, 1974-1975
39. Peoples Hospital Committee for Liquidation, July 18, 1967
40. Homer G. Phillips Hospital, Dental Clinic Article, Jan. 1955 and Internes Alumni Association, Convention
Agenda March 1947
41. Homer G. Phillips Hospital, "The History and Development of Homer G. Phillips Hospital", 1963
42. Homer G. Phillips Hospital, Journal of the National Medical Association Article, Nov. 1961
43. Homer G. Phillips Hospital, School of Nursing Programs, 1947, 1948, 1950
44. Homer G. Phillips Hospital, 25th Anniversary Booklet, 1962
45. Poro College, 1915-1919
BOX 2
46. St. Louis Panhellenic Council, Program, Reports, and Handbook, 1954-1966
47. St. Louis Public Schools, 1964-1974
48. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Annual Report, 1964-1965
49. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Annual Report, 1979-1980
50. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Church Directory, 1950
51. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, History, 1981
52. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Minutes, Lists of Elders and Pastors, 1875-1884
53. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Missouri Conference Program, 1979
54. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Souvenir Program, 1840-1940
55. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Women's Missionary Society Convention, 1963
56. Stowe Teachers College (Harris-Stowe College) Yearbook, 1949
57. Stowe Teachers College Yearbook, 1949
58. Sumner High School, Administration Bios, 1875-1972
59. Sumner High School, Administrative Circulars, 1963-1974
60. Sumner High School, Commencement Program, 1970
61. Sumner High School, The Cub Journal, Dec. 10, 1970
62. Sumner High School, Graduation Exercises, June 20, 1887
63. Sumner High School, Graduation Exercises, June 17,1901
64. Sumner High School, Reunion Classes of 1931-1935
65. Sumner High School, Yearbook, 1929
66. Sumner High School, Yearbook, 1931
67. Sumner High School, Yearbook, 1932
68. Sumner High School, Yearbook, 1939
69. Sumner High School, Yearbook, 1941
70. Sumner High School, Yearbook, 1942
71. Sumner High School, Yearbook, 1943
72. Sumner High School, Yearbook, 1950
BOX 3
73. United Fund of Greater St. Louis, Inc., Agencies Relation Manual, 1963
74. United Fund Inc., Agencies Relations Department Memoranda, 1965-1966
75. United Fund Day Care, 1964-1966
76. United Fund Day Care Budget Requests, 1966
77. United Fund Job Descriptions, n.d.
78. United Fund Annie Malone Children's Home Budget Estimate, 1966
79. United Fund, Newsletter, Nov. 1966
80. United Fund, Personnel Review Committee Minutes and Agenda, Jan.-Feb., 1965
81. United Fund, Personnel Review Committee Minutes and Agenda, March-April, 1965
82. United Fund, Personnel Review Committee Minutes and Agenda, June-Sept., 1965
83. United Fund, Personnel Review Committee Minutes and Agenda, Feb. 1966-Feb. 1967
84. United Fund, Salary Surveys and Schedules, 1964-1973
85. Vashon High School Yearbook, 1945
86. Vashon High School Yearbook, 1947
87. Vashon High School 39th Commencement, Jan. 22, 1947
88. Young Men's Christian Assocation, Board Members' Newsletter, July 1973
89. YMCA, Junior Kindergartan, 1967
90. YMCA, Intercampus Board, 1968
91. YMCA, National Council, 1969-1977
92. YMCA, Program Committee, 1966-1974
93. YMCA, Program Committee, 1966-1976
94. YMCA, West Central Area Council, 1962-1967
BOX 4
SERIES 2 - ANNIE MALONE CHILDREN'S HOME RECORDS
95. Affirmative Action Plan, 1960s
96. Annual Report, 1966
97. Annual Report, 1978
98. Board of Directors, 1962-1965
99. Board of Directors, 1966-1969
100. Board of Directors, 1971-1974
101. Board of Directors, 1975-1976
102. Camp Wonderland Report, July 4-10, 1976
103. Children's Library Proposal, 1966
104. Constitution, June 1976
105. Financial Statements and Audit Report, 1964-1967
106. Financial Statements and Audit Reports, 1974
107. General Ledger, April-December, 1974
108. General Ledger, August-September, 1976
109. Group Home for Girls Proposal, 1976
110. May Day Celebrations, 1967-1968
111. May Day Celebrations, 1967-1968
BOX 5
112. May Day Celebrations, 1971-1976
113. Membership List, 1966
114. Memo, Member Card, and Newsletter, 1965-1974
115."Mutual Care Home" Grant Proposal, May-October 1971
116. Receipts and Disbursements, 1966, April-August 1976
SERIES 3-PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTIFACTS #12294-12307
117. Freedom of Residence Photographs, #12294-12297, 1964
118. Annie Malone Children's Home Photographs, #12298-122299, c.1960s
119. Pan Hellenic Council and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, #12300-12302, 1954
120. Sumner High School, #12303-12307, 1975
121. Annie Malone Children's Home Buttons and Tags, 1965,1969
INDEX
Afro-American--Children f. 33, 76, 89, 95-116
Afro-American--Churches f. 48-55
Afro-American--Education f. 56-72, 85-87
Afro-American--Fraternities and Sororities f. 1-13
Afro-American--Housing f. 1, 25-31, 34
Afro-American--Religion f. 48-55
Afro-American--Social Condition f. 1-121
Afro-American--Teachers f. 1-121
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity f.1-13, 119
Alpha Phi Alpha 60th Anniversary Convention f. 10-11
Annie Malone Children's Home f. 78, 95-116, 118-121
Baker, Josephine f. 13
Bass, John f. 23, 120
Boy Scouts of America f. 14
Brantley, George Dennis f. 58
Brown Studies f. 25
Buckner, John Davis f. 1-121
Camp Wonderland f. 102
Cervantes, Alfonso f. 10, 27
Child Care f. 75-76, 95-116
Children f. 33, 76, 89, 95-116
Clay, Congressman William f. 19
Clayton, Alva C. f. 58
Commission on Equal Educational Opportunities f. 19
Daniel W. Bowles Award f. 2
Davis, Julia f. 21-22
Day care f. 75-76
Education, f. 19, 22, 47, 56-72, 85-87, 120
Epsilon Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha f. 2-8, 10-11
Fair Housing f.25-32
Ferrier-Harris Home f. 24
Freedom of Residence, Greater St. Louis Committee f. 25-32, 117
George Dennis Brantley Scholarship Fund f. 15
Harris-Stowe College f. 56-57
Homer G. Phillip Hospital f. 40-44
Housing f. 1, 25-31, 34
Human Development Corporation f. 34
Jones, Joseph Lee f. 32
Jones vs. Mayer (fair housing suit) f. 32
Katzenstein, Rabbi Martin E. f. 27,30
Kohl, Daniel f. 27,30
Liberman, Samuel f. 32
Marshall, Thurgood f. 10-11
Missouri State Teachers Association f. 35
Mitchell, Nannie (Turner) f. 36
Model Cities f. 32
"Mutual Care Home" Grant Proposal f. 115
Office of Economic Opportunities f. 38
Page-Park Branch YMCA f. 92
Politics f. 21-22
Poro College f. 45
Porter, Ruth f. 27-28,32,117
Real Estate f. 25-28, 31
Recreation f. 33, 89-94, 102
Scott, Dred f. 10-11
Segregation f. 25-32, 117
Sporleder, James A. f. 32
St. Louis American f. 10
St. Louis Argus f. 36
St. Louis Teachers Strike, 1973 f. 47
St. Paul A.M.E. Church f. 48-55
Sumner High School f. 58-72, 120
Sweets, Nathaniel f. 10
Teachers' Associations f. 17, 35, 47
United Fund of Greater St. Louis, Inc. f. 73-84
University City f. 27,30
Vashon High School f. 85-87
Vatterott, Charles F. f. 27
Waring, Oscar Minor f. 58
William M. Alexander Awards f. 2
Williams, Frank Lunsford f. 58
Young Men's Christian Association f. 89-94
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
222 THOMAS JEFFERSON LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
8001 NATURAL BRIDGE ROAD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63121
(314) 516-5143
E-MAIL: whmc@umsl.edu