John S. Bugas papers, 1934-1973

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bugas, John S. (John Stephen), 1908-1982
Title
John S. Bugas papers
Dates
1934-1973 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.38 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Collection Number
12525
Summary
John S. Bugas (1908-1982) was an FBI special agent and a vice president at Ford Motor Company. This collection contains some of his files from his time at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Ford Motor Company. It also contains his father’s (A.P. Bugas’) account of the Chinese Riot at Rock Springs.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

John S. “Jack” Bugas (1908-1982) was an FBI special agent and a vice president at Ford Motor Company. Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Bugas attended the University of Wyoming, earning a law degree in 1934. After joining the FBI in 1935, he rose through the ranks and was appointed head of the Detroit office by J. Edgar Hoover in 1938, where he played a crucial role in breaking up Nazi spy rings during World War II. In 1944, Henry Ford personally hired Bugas to oversee the protection of his grandchildren following the Lindbergh kidnapping. At Ford, Bugas became a key figure in ousting Harry Bennett, Ford’s head of security, and assisting Henry Ford II in restructuring the company as it transitioned from wartime production. By 1950, Bugas had secured a position on Ford’s board of directors and held multiple vice president roles, contributing to the company’s transformation into a publicly traded entity by 1956. After leaving Ford in 1968, he held leadership positions at other companies, including Standard Oil of Indiana and Marathon Oil. In addition to his corporate career, Bugas owned over twenty-thousand acres of land in Wyoming, where he operated working cattle ranches with more than 800 head of Hereford cattle. He regularly returned to his ranches for cattle drives every May and October, maintaining a strong connection to his Wyoming roots throughout his life. John S. Bugas died in December of 1982, at the age of seventy-four.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains the papers of John “Jack” Bugas. It contains some of his files from his time at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Ford Motor Company. It also contains his father’s (A.P. Bugas’) account of the Chinese Riot at Rock Springs. The collection also has newspaper clippings and photographs related to Jack’s life and work.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Restrictions on Use

Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.

Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by John S. Bugas at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

This collection was recieived from Joan Bugas in October of 1988.

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Brittany Heye in September of 2024.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1 Certificate of Membership to the Chairman's Club at the Boys' Clubs of America to John S. Bugas 1972-1973
1 The Chinese Riot at Rock Springs in 1885 - Account from A. P. Bugas (Jack's Father) undated
1 Diploma - The University of Wyoming Law School for John Stephen Bugas June 4, 1934
1 FBI - Short, Walter C., General- Testimony before Joint Congressional Committee on Investigation of Attack on Pearl Harbor 1945-1946
1 FBI - Notebooks of J.S. Bugas 1937-1941
1 Ford Motor Company - Bennett, Harry H. files 1945-1949
1 Ford Motor Company - Contract undated
1 Ford Motor Company - Interview with George B. Heliker 1958-1959
1 Ford Motor Company - Politics file from J. S. Bugas 1944-1948
1 Ford Motor Company - Republican Party Contributions 1945-1948
1 Memorandum from John S. Bugas- Vice President and Director of Industrial Relations to Ford Motor Company employees April 25, 1947
1 Newspaper clippings - Clarks Fork Canyon Road, Wyoming September 20, 1972
1 Newspaper clippings - Ford Motor Company undated
1 Newspaper clippings - Jack Bugas at FBI undated
1 Newspaper clippings - Jack Bugas at Ford 1943-1968
1-2 Photographs undated
2 Photographs - from Ford Motor Company undated
1 U.S. Atomic Energy Commission - personal file of J.S. Bugas 1950

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Industrial relations.
  • Rock Springs Massacre, Rock Springs, Wyo., 1885.
  • World War II.

Personal Names

  • Bennett, Harry Herbert, 1892-1979.
  • Ford, Henry, II, 1917-1987.
  • Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972.

Corporate Names

  • Ford Motor Company.
  • United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Geographical Names

  • Rock Springs (Wyo.)
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999.
  • Wyoming -- History -- To 1889.