It has been 20 years since Robert Creeley’s passing, and almost 55 years since the historic protest of 1970, which led to the closure of both the University of Buffalo and Buffalo State just before final exams began. Recently, my research has focused on the period between fall 1969 and summer 1970 in WNY for a piece about a college student who went missing.

While searching through yearbooks from Buffalo universities, I came across these pictures of Robert Creeley along with an article written by the yearbook staff. The article reflects on the tumultuous times, including protests, police occupation, and encampments at the University of Buffalo during that school year.

Full Buffaloian University of Buffalo Yearbook 1970 here

I was fortunate to do a work-study with Mr. Creeley at UB in 2002. We met at Café Aroma on Saturday afternoons. He was patient, and we discussed various topics such as war, shyness, jazz, and H.D. He shared his experiences from 1970, explaining the challenges of working at UB during the Vietnam War. He also mentioned ushering students safely into Canada after the draft began in December 1969.
I was so thankful he spent the time with me, here and there.

Fairfield Press would like to hear your recollections of Buffalo during 1970. If you’re interested in sharing your story, please submit it here or email it directly to [email protected]. You can also schedule an appointment to share your story in person.