Depictions of officials, members and the activities of the Vulcan Society, a fraternal organization for Black firefighters of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), from the 1940s to 1990, consisting of studio portraits of fire department officials; group portraits of fire officials, firefighters, families of fire fighters, and civic figures; and views of meetings, social gatherings, presentations, parades, funeral processions, fire scenes, and a classroom. Of note are depictions of the activities of Robert O. Lowery, the first African American Fire Commissioner of the FDNY (1966-1973); Augustus A. Beekman, the first African American FDNY Deputy Chief (1966) and second African American FDNY Fire Commissioner (1978-1980); and Fire Battalion Chief Wesley A. Williams, who helped organize the Vulcan Society in 1940; and views of the funeral procession arriving at St. Patrick's Cathedral for 12 firefighters killed in the line-of-duty in a building collapse during the five alarm Wonder Drug Store fire (1966).
Content: Title taken from Vulcan Society Collection.
Content: Some photographs bear photographer's photography studio's or photo agency's hand stamp on verso.
Content: Some items bear handwritten caption verso; some items have typewritten captions attached to verso or recto; some items bear printed captions on verso or recto.
Content: Some items are duplicates.
Content: Collection contains work by Bill Anderson, the New York City Fire Department, and the New York Times, among others.
Biographical/historical: The Vulcan Society is a fraternal organization of Black firefighters employed by the New York City Fire Department. Founded in 1940 by Fire Battalion Chief Wesley Williams, the Society was formed for comradeship, and to eliminate and monitor discrimination within the Fire Department. It also provides education and training for individuals interested in careers as firefighters; financial aid to its members and members' children who attend institutions of higher education; and gives moral and fund raising support to other Black organizations.
Content: Forms part of the Vulcan Society Collection, 1898-1994.
Physical Description
Extent: 105 items (.2 cubic ft., one box)
Extent: 101 photographic prints :gelatin silver, black and white ;21 x 28 cm and smaller.
Extent: 4 photographic prints :color ;21 x 28 cm and smaller.
