Found 3 collections related to African American fire fighters

The Vulcan Society is a fraternal organization of black fire fighters employed by the NYCFD. 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. less

Wesley Williams was New York City's first African American fire fighter and fire official in the New York City Fire Department, and he was a founder of the Vulcan Society. The Wesley Williams papers consist of correspondence, news clippings, material about the Vulcan Society, and information about Williams's father, James H. Williams, Chief of the Red Caps at Grand Central Station, and Robert O. Lowery, first African American fire commissioner in New York City. less

The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) was founded in September 1969, at a meeting attended by Black and other minority fire fighters of all ranks, from municipalities across the United States. They met to discuss various problems and issues affecting Black fire fighters: the recruitment of Black youth into the fire service; fire fighters and community relations with special emphasis on relations with the residents of neighborhoods inhabited by Blacks; intergroup relations and practices in fire departments; and the need to improve fire prevention programs in minority areas. Tpdau, the association represents more than 8000 fire service personnel including fire fighters, dispatchers, and individuals in related professions throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, organized into 180 chapters. The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters collection is primarily limited to the Northeast region, where the organization was established. There are several items regarding the initial meeting, constitution, and by-laws, along with anecdotes by the first president about recruitment of minority fire fighters. Most of the collection is comprised of publications and papers related to IABPFF conferences. Also included are newsletters, printed material related to various chapters, some officers' correspondence, souvenir journals, and newspaper clippings. Additionally, there is printed matter from other organizations that are consistent with the aims of the IABPFF. less