Research Catalog

Title

Vulcan Society collection, 1898-1994 (bulk 1960-1990).

Author

New York (N.Y.). Fire Department. Vulcan Society.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

1 lin. ft. (2 1/2 archival boxes)

Summary

• The bulk of the Vulcan Society collection (1961-1994) consists of minutes, correspondence, newsletters, souvenir journals, news clippings, and other printed material. Included are files kept by Robert O. Lowery, the first Black New York City Fire Department commissioner and president of the Society for several years, and his successor, Vincent Julius. Julius's files contain information on a 1986 lawsuit brought by the Vulcan Society on behalf of present and future Black firefighters against the NYCFD in order to redress employment discrimination based on race, along with his comments on the suit, correspondence files, and a chronology of the Society.
• There is documentation and biographical information on pioneer Black firefighters consisting of a diary-type volume (1898-1899) kept by William H. Nicholson, the first Black firefighter employed by the NYCFD, listing routine activities in a fire station; and biographical information on Wesley Williams, the first Black battalion chief. Also included in the collection are tributes and correspondence discussing Vulcan Society activities and the organization's involvement in the community (1962-1990), and printed material issued NYCFD.

Subjects

• African American fire fighters
• African American fire fighters > New York (State) > New York > Societies, etc
• Discrimination in employment
• Williams, Wesley A., 1896-1984
• Lowery, Robert O (Robert Oliver), 1916-
• Associations, institutions, etc > United States
• Associations, institutions, etc > African American membership
• African Americans > Employment > New York (State) > New York
• New York (N.Y.) > Fire Department > Vulcan Society
• Julius, Vincent W
• Fire fighters > Employment > New York (State) > New York
• Fire fighters > Employment > United States

Note

• Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
• Medallion transferred to Art and Artifact Division.
• Audiotapes transferred to Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division.
• Books and magazines transferred to General Research and Reference Division.

Source (note)

• Robert O. Lowery, Vincent W. Julius

Location of Other Archival Materials (note)

• Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Biography (note)

• The Vulcan Society is a fraternal organization of Black firefighters employed by the NYCFD. It was founded in 1940 by the late Battalion Chief Wesley Williams, who was also instrumental in establishing the Guardians, a fraternal organization of Black policemen in the New York City Police Department. Initially formed for comradeship and to eliminate and monitor discrimination within the NYCFD, the Society also provides education and training for individuals interested in careers as firefighters, and financial aid to its members and members' children who attend institutions of higher education. In addition, the Society provides moral support and raises funds for other Black organizations.

Call Number

Sc MG 467

OCLC

743088874

Author

New York (N.Y.). Fire Department. Vulcan Society.

Title

Vulcan Society collection, 1898-1994 (bulk 1960-1990).

Biography

The Vulcan Society is a fraternal organization of Black firefighters employed by the NYCFD. It was founded in 1940 by the late Battalion Chief Wesley Williams, who was also instrumental in establishing the Guardians, a fraternal organization of Black policemen in the New York City Police Department. Initially formed for comradeship and to eliminate and monitor discrimination within the NYCFD, the Society also provides education and training for individuals interested in careers as firefighters, and financial aid to its members and members' children who attend institutions of higher education. In addition, the Society provides moral support and raises funds for other Black organizations.

Location of Other Archival Materials

Wesley Williams papers and International Association of Black Fire Fighters collection; Also located at; Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Source

Robert O. Lowery, Vincent W. Julius Gift June 1993 - June 1997 SCM 93-19

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Research Call Number

Sc MG 467