Description
The Collection is divided into Professional Papers and Project Records; it consists primarily of project records with just
a few professional papers. The professional papers include clippings, awards and the transcript of an oral history done for
the Thomas Church Oral History Project. The project records contain drawings and some documentation for both built and unbuilt
commissions. There are photographs for some projects.
Background
Jack Stafford, a landscape architect was born in 1921 in Casper, Wyoming. He attended the University of Wyoming, studying
premed for three years before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. As a pilot, Stafford flew numerous missions
in B-24s in the South Pacific and earned a Silver Star medal and seven separate oak leaf clusters for his outstanding service.
After leaving the Air Corps in 1944, he briefly became a pilot for Western Airlines and moved to California with his wife,
Bonnie.
Stafford soon enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with a B.S. in Landscape Architecture in 1950.
He began working with Thomas Church and took on managemnet of Church's projects on the San Mateo penninsula south of San Francisco.
He later established his own "Peninsula" practice focusing on residential designs for homes in Palo Alto, Woodside and Hillsborough,
among other cities
Mr. Stafford was a member of the Architectural and Site Review Board in Woodside. He earned numerous awards for his work,
including several design awards from landscaping contractors. Jack Stafford died January 27, 1998 at his home in Woodside
Sources
San Francisco Chronicle: "Obituary – Jack Casper Stafford." Feb. 12, 1998.
Extent
15 Linear Feet:
4 cartons, 1 manuscript box, 53 tubes
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the
Curator.
Availability
Collection open for research.