Research Catalog

Title

Vulcan Society photograph collection.

Author

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

Publication

[1936]-1990.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Anderson, Bill
• Cuttino
• Fentress, Robert H.
• Murphy, Thomas J.
• Solomon, Chick
• Blake Photographers (South Ozone Park, N.Y.), photographer.
• Boston Fotos (New York, N.Y.), photographer.
• G.G.G. Photo Studios (New York, N.Y.), photographer.
• New York (N.Y.). Fire Department, photographer.
• New York Times Company, photographer.

Found In

c2pc New York (N.Y.). Fire Department. Vulcan Society Vulcan Society collection, 1898-1994 (OCoLC)743088874

Description

• 105 items (.2 cubic ft., one box); 21 x 28 cm and smaller.
• 101 photographic prints : gelatin silver, black and white ;
• 4 photographic prints : color ;

Summary

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).

Subjects

• African American fire fighters > New York (State) > New York
• Dye coupler prints > 1960-1989
• Gelatin silver prints > 1930-1989
• Group portraits > 1930-1989
• Portrait photographs > 1940-1989
• Fires > New York (State) > New York
• Meetings > New York (State) > New York
• Funeral processions > New York (State) > New York > 1960-1969
• Award presentations > New York (State) > New York
• Rites and ceremonies > New York (State) > New York
• African American fire fighters > New York (State) > New York > Societies, etc
• New York (N.Y.) > Fire Department > Officials and employees > Promotions
• New York (N.Y.) > Fire Department > Vulcan Society
• Beekman, Augustus A., 1923-2008
• Williams, Wesley A., 1896-1984
• Lowery, Robert O (Robert Oliver), 1916-

Genre/Form

• Portrait photographs – 1940-1989.
• Group portraits – 1930-1989.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1930-1989.
• Dye coupler prints – 1960-1989.

Note

• Title taken from Vulcan Society Collection.
• Some photographs bear photographer's photography studio's or photo agency's hand stamp on verso.
• 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.
• Some items are duplicates.
• Collection contains work by Bill Anderson, the New York City Fire Department, and the New York Times, among others.

Terms of Use (note)

• Some items are under copyright; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography (note)

• 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.

Linking Entry (note)

• Forms part of the Vulcan Society Collection, 1898-1994.

Call Number

Sc Photo Vulcan Society Collection

OCLC

1286080420

Author

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

Title

Vulcan Society photograph collection.

Production

[1936]-1990.

Type of Content

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

Terms Of Use

Some items are under copyright; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography

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.

Linking Entry

Forms part of the Vulcan Society Collection, 1898-1994.

Local Note

Sc MG 467

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Added Author

Anderson, Bill, photographer.

Cuttino, photographer.

Fentress, Robert H., photographer.

Murphy, Thomas J., photographer.

Solomon, Chick, photographer.

Blake Photographers (South Ozone Park, N.Y.), photographer.

Boston Fotos (New York, N.Y.), photographer.

G.G.G. Photo Studios (New York, N.Y.), photographer.

New York (N.Y.). Fire Department, photographer.

New York Times Company, photographer.

Found In:

c2pc New York (N.Y.). Fire Department. Vulcan Society Vulcan Society collection, 1898-1994 (OCoLC)743088874

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Vulcan Society Collection