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Talks, Tour, Press & Articles

BOOK EVENTS & SPEAKING - Contact Kate Buford at 914-610-0604. Email kate@katebuford.com OR k.leebuford@gmail.com.

JUNE 9, 2014: Taping of interview in NYC for Arrow Video's (UK) upcoming DVD of Burt Lancaster's BRUTE FORCE (1947).

May 16-18, 2014: BIOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION (BIO) 5th annual conference at U. Mass. Boston. I was panel moderator for -- "Cultivating Readers and Blurb Writers" with panelists Will Swift, Abby Santamaria & Susan Rabiner -- and was a panelist on Brian Jay Jones's (Jim Henson biographer) panel -- "What Happens After You Turn In Your Manuscript."

May 10, 2014: I appeared at this terrific film noir festival in Palm Springs with Susie (Mrs. Burt) Lancaster to talk with Alan Rode about Lancaster's first film, THE KILLERS (1946).

February 28, 2014: Interview with Liz Humes of Wordy Birds, A Weekly Radio Discussion About Books and Ideas.

FEBRUARY 20, 2014: Great Lives 2014 Lecture Series, "Jim Thorpe and the Tricky Art of Biography."

NOVEMBER 22, 2013: Taped interview in Cincinnati, Ohio, for Time Warner Sports Channel. Multi-part series on the birth of professional football, to air Fall 2014

NOVEMBER 20, 2013: Scarsdale (NY) Women's Club, "Being a Woman Writing about Very Masculine Men."

SEPTEMBER 2013: READEX ," 'The Great Upheaval': Tracking Jim Thorpe's Swift Fall From Grace after the 1912 Olympics."

JUNE 5, 2013: Interview, SDPB Radio -- South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

MAY 17-19, 2013: BIO 2013: Roosevelt Hotel, NYC (Biographers International Organization). I presented the 2013 BIO Biblio Award to David Smith, New York Public Library Literary Lion, and served on "Crafting the Biography" panel.

May & June 2013: To mark the centennial of Burt Lancaster's birth in East Harlem, NYC, on Nov. 2, 1913, I spoke on SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS(1957) at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Centennial Lancaster film series. On June 1 I spoke at UCLA's 3-month Lancaster Series, on BRUTE FORCE (1947) and KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY HANDS (1948). It was like a family reunion: several of the Lancaster progeny came, as well as Susie Lancaster, Burt's widow. Good times.

OCTOBER 5-6, 2012: “Carlisle, PA: Site of Indigenous Histories, Memories and Reclamations” Symposium, Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

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LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES - JIM THORPE CENTENNIAL programs in which I participated:

BBC RADIO 4: Thirty-minute historical documentary program about Jim Thorpe – and the issues that surround his life. Producer: Mark Whitaker. Air date JULY 4.

NATIVE AMERICAN SON won the BEST TRACK & FIELD READ for Olympic summer of 2012 by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

BBC WORLD SERVICE: "Jim Thorpe - American Indian Legend"

BBC RADIO 4: THE BALLADS OF THE GAMES
This series of six one-hour documentaries in radio ballad format, begun by Peggy Seeger in the 1950s, celebrates some of the most significant athletes (including Thorpe), moments and unforgettable sporting achievements in the history of the Olympics. Broadcast June - August 2012.

AUGUST 5, 2012 - DAILY BEAST article on Jim Thorpe and his legacy. 100 years ago on July 15, Thorpe won the Decathlon gold medal in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and the King of Sweden, presenting him that day with the gold medals for the both the Classic Pentathlon and the Decathlon, called him "the most wonderful athlete in the world."

JULY 27, 2012: WHYY Radio Times with host Marty Moss-Coane + me, Bill Mallon and NPR's Tom Goldman, "Jim Thorpe's 1912 Olympic dominance & a London preview."

JULY 5, 2012 7 pm -- VARSITY LETTERS, "Olympics Night" at Le Poisson Rouge with me, Jack McCallum and David Davis:
Monthly sports reading series in New York City. Prior readers include Sally Jenkins, Buzz Bissinger, and Malcolm Gladwell.

JUNE 13: Sportswriting panel with Rob Fleder, Robert Sullivan, Joe Wallace and me in the Maramduke Writing Factory cave. USA Today Book Critic Bob Minzesheimer as umpire. Beer, pretzels, Crackerjacks & book signing provided!

MAY 24 - 25: SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, Washington, D.C. "Best in the World: Native Athletes in the Olympics" -- Opening Reception + book signing.

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MAY 18-20 2012: THIRD ANNUAL COMPLEAT BIOGRAPHER CONFERENCE (BIO)
University of Southern California. I will be appearing on the panel: Creating a Beautifully Written Biography, moderated by Will Swift, with fellow panelists Anne Heller and David Groff. I will also present the first BIO Archivist Award to Ned Comstock, of the USC Cinematic Arts Library.

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RADIO Promotion for NATIVE AMERICAN SON paperback --

May 4: CARLISLE, PA - interview with BBC Radio 4 for documentary on Thorpe to air during 2012 London Games

April 23: OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - KOSU-FM, "THE LIVING ROOM with Gerry Bonds."

April 19: PORTLAND, OR - KLOO-AM, "AFTERNOON DRIVE" w/Jon Warren & Mike Parker

March 21: CHICAGO, IL - WGN-AM, "EXTENSION 720 w/Milt Rosenberg"

March 13: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - KCMN-AM, "TRON TALK" w/Tron Simpson

------------: NEW MEXICO - KPMQ-FM, "A CLOSER LOOK" with Pam Atherton

March 12: STATE COLLEGE, PA, REGIONAL PENNSYLVANIA - PA SPORTS NETWORK, "MONDAY ROAD SHOW" with Jed Donahue

March 7: NORTH GEORGIA - WDUN-AM 550, "Morning News with Bill & Joel"

March 6: PITTSBURGH, PA - WMBS-CBS, "JACK EVANS SHOW"

Feb. 28: PHILADELPHIA, PA - WILM-AM, 'MORNING REPORT with Bruce & Anthony"

Feb. 23: PORTLAND, OR - KPAM-AM, "NORTHWEST SPORTS with Ron Callan."

PRINT: INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY, "Jim Thorpe, Star Athlete and Hero for All Americans," James Quiggle, March 26, 2012.

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HARDCOVER BOOK TOUR EVENTS

POMONA, NEW JERSEY (Atlantic City): Stockton College, October 14, 2011 Pop (John Henry) Lloyd Celebration (Negro League)

Richard Stockton College Sports Symposium: "Pain & Triumph of American Sports." Speakers: Luis Mayoral, Randy Roberts, David Zarin and me.

NEW YORK CITY - WOMEN WRITING WOMEN'S LIVES Oct. 3, 2011 4 pm
"Building a Web Platform" Panel on Social Media

NYC, FRIAR'S CLUB: Sept. 27, 2011 6 pm
"Burt Lancaster & Jim Thorpe: Two Performers, Two Stars," speech hosted by The Actors Fund.

OKLAHOMA CITY Thursday, July 14, 2011
Featured speaker, Jim Thorpe Association Leadership Luncheon to honor high school seniors who are recipients of the Jim Thorpe college scholarships and Player of the Year awards.

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK Friday, May 27, 2011
Station Cafe, reading with Penelope Rowlands (PARIS WAS OURS, Algonquin, 2010).

WESTCHESTER COUNTY Monday, May 23, 2011, 6-9 pm
Greenburgh Library annual fundraiser: "Books & Cooks"
A gathering of top Westchester chefs + local authors

WASHINGTON, D.C. Saturday, May 21, 2011
The 2011 Compleat Biographer conference, National Press Club, hosted by Biographers International Organization (BIO)
Member of panel: "Using Social Networking."

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK MAY 15 2011 4 pm
Irvington Historical Society, "Jim Thorpe: The Man Behind the Legend"

WESTCHESTER COUNTY May 6, 2011, 6 pm
Westchester Community College Foundation "Celebrity Salon" at home of William Louis-Dreyfus, Mt. Kisco.

LOS ANGELES Sunday, May 1, 2011, 11 am
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Panel: "Larger Than Life: Behind the Icon," with Richard Schickel, Yunte Huang, Leslie Brody, Elizabeth Taylor.
Annenberg Auditorium, University of Southern California

Wednesday, March 23, 2011
NATIVE AMERICAN SON wins SABR 2011 Larry Ritter Award!
(Best book about baseball's Deadball Era (pre-Babe Ruth))

BOSTON Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 3:30-5 p.m.
University of Massachusetts Boston
Book signing, reading, and reception co-hosted by the Athletics Division and the Institute for New England Native American Studies at UMass Boston

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA Thursday, March 17, 2011
Virginia Festival of the Book
Sponsor and book signing venue: Ragged Mountain Running Shop

NEW YORK CITY Saturday, March 5, 2011
Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) "Spring Fever - On Deck" Mid-Manhattan Branch, New York Public Library
"Jim Thorpe's Baseball Life"

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK Thursday, February 24, 2011
JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER, Pleasantville, NY
Host: Jim Thorpe Program, featuring an episode from BATTLING WITH BUFFALO BILL (1931), Thorpe's first Hollywood movie, and clips from SHE (1935), WHITE HEAT (1939), and JIM THORPE -- ALL AMERICAN (1951).

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA Monday, February 7, 2011
Book signing, Jim Thorpe Award banquet, The National Cowboy Western Heritage Museum.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK Friday, January 28, 2011
Judge for the Fifth Annual Community-wide Irvington-on-Hudson, NY SPELLING BEE, sponsored by the Friends of the Irvington Library

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA TV - Monday, December 20 WVTR-TV (CBS 6)
“Virginia This Morning” 9:00 am --5-minute live interview. Hosts: Greg McQuade and Cheryl Miller

-- Book Signing, 5:30-7:30
PAGE BOND GALLERY, Richmond, Virginia

PRINT - Sunday, December 19, 2010
New York Times Sunday Book Review: Editors' Choice!

-- LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA - BOOK SIGNING - Books and Co., 2-5 pm "Author Extravaganza"
Twelve local authors signing books

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK Wednesday, December 15, 7 pm Reading & Book signing
MARMADUKE WRITING FACTORY, writers' group inaugural event, Marmaduke-Forster House, Pleasantville, New York.

RADIO - Wednesday, November 24, 2010: WEAA-FM "Michael Eric Dyson Show" (NPR Affiliate), Broadcast reach: Baltimore, Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle, Tacoma, Washington D.C., Houston, Jackson MS, SW Mississippi, Shreveport, Eastern TN.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK - TV - Tuesday, November 30, 10 am; Friday, December 3, 9 pm. Will air later in Scarsdale and Rye.
BEYOND THE GAME,with John Vorperian. White Plains Cable Channel 76 & Verizon Fios Channel 45.

PRINT - Sunday, November 21, 2010 New York Times, Sports Section

Saturday, November 20
Private Book Launch Party, Irvington, New York

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - RADIO - Saturday, November 20, 9:40 a.m. 1470 AM
Philadelphia Fox Affiliate "Calling All Sports"

NEW YORK CITY - Thursday, November 18
Private party, 141 Fifth Avenue

NEW YORK CITY - Wednesday, November 17, 7 pm
Book signing: Oval Amenities/Fitness
520 E. 20th Street (Stuyvesant Town)

NEW YORK CITY - Tuesday, November 16, 6-8 pm
Private party hosted by Robinson Lerer & Montgomery, NYC

KINGSTON, NEW YORK Sunday, Nov. 14, 2 pm
Book signing. Barnes & Noble.

KINGSTON, NEW YORK - RADIO * Friday, Nov. 12, 8 am
WKNY, 1490 AM CBS "Warren Lawrence Morning Drive" 20-minute live telephone interview.

CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA Thursday, November 11, 7 pm
Cumberland County Historical Society. Speech and book signing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. Monday, November 8, 7 pm.
Politics and Prose Bookstore & Coffee Shop, 5015 Connecticut Avenue.

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI Wednesday, October 27, 7 pm
Left Bank Books Downtown

Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Happy Publication Day!

-- OKLAHOMA CITY - RADIO: Citizen Potawatomi Nation: "The Native American Speaks." Host Michael Dodson. KOKC-AM (1520); KGFF-AM (1450) Shawnee, OK.

-- TV: KWTV/NEWS9, Oklahoma City, OK, Darren Brown.

-- BLOG: THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN
Jenni Carlson, "A Different View of Jim Thorpe": "... it is the photographs in a new book about Jim Thorpe that have caught my attention."

-- LOS ANGELES - RADIO: FM KPCC 89.3, 9 - 10 am PST, Los Angeles
The Madeleine Brand Show. Brand is former co-host of NPR's DAY TO DAY and contributor to MORNING EDITION and ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - RADIO: WORL AM 660
Telephone interview with Pat Williams, sr vp of NBA's Orlando Magic, "Inside the Game."

OKLAHOMA CITY Monday, October 25
Multiple events at Oklahoma City University. Speech and book signing, Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel on campus, 2501 North Blackwelder, 5:30 pm, free and open to the public.

LOS ANGELES Sunday, October 24, 2010
Book signing and reception at LA84 Foundation. The largest sports archive in North America and, through its endowment set up from surplus funds from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the source of programming and financial support for youth sports throughout Southern California. It was formerly the Helms Foundation and Thorpe considered it a haven in his later years, where he was fully appreciated for his contribution to American sports.

TV * Tuesday, September 21
HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel - Kate Buford in Jim Thorpe, PA with Frank Deford.

PRINT * Sunday, July 24, 2010
Quoted in: NEW YORK TIMES: "Jack Thorpe vs. Jim Thorpe, Pa.: A legal battle over Jim Thorpe's remains."

PRINT * Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Quoted in: WALL STREET JOURNAL, page 1: "Is There Life After Jim Thorpe for Jim Thorpe, Pa.? Olympic Great is Buried near Poconos, But Son Wants Him back in Oklahoma."