- Creator
- Hooey, Luther, 1913-1969
- Physical description
- 3 folders
- Preferred Citation
- Luther Hooey collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
- Access to materials
- Some collections held by the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture are held off-site and must be requested in advance. Please check the collection records in the NYPL's online catalog for detailed location information. To request access to materials in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, please visit: http://archives.nypl.org/divisions/scm/request_access Request access to this collection.
Luther M.B. Hooey began working as a fire fighter for the New York City Fire Department (NYCFD) in 1942. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1954, and to captain in 1962. When the Fire Prevention Unit was established in 1956, Hooey, one of 35 blacks in the department, was one of the two officers appointed. Working mainly with audio-visual aids, Hooey addressed thousands of New Yorkers yearly in every borough, wrote his own scripts for radio and television appearances and prepared various Fire Department pamphlets and brochures. In the 1950's Hooey served as president of the Vulcan Society, a fraternal organization of black fire fighters employed by the NYCFD. While president of the society, Hooey conceived the idea of forming a study group within the society for the promotion to lieutenant. He received six decorations of valor. The Luther Hooey collection consists primarily of letters of appreciation and commendation written by schools, hotels, and social and other organizations to which Hooey had given presentations concerning fire safety. A 1941 letter from Walter White congratulates Hooey on his high score for appointment to the NYCFD, and letters from fire commissioners Robert O. Lowery to Hooey and to Edward F. Cavanagh, Jr. and other officers commend Hooey's professionalism. A letter from Thurgood Marshall presents a monetary gift to the Vulcan Society from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (1956). There are also two certificates presented by Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr., as well as two papers Hooey wrote about chief Wesley Williams of the NYCFD and the dangers Involved in using Kerosene oil heaters. Several news articles feature stories about Hooey and two Vulcan Society programs for memorial services list Hooey (1975-1976).
Administrative information
Source of acquisition
Gift, Alex R. Bagwell, Jr, 06/14/2004Using the collection
Location
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor