Vulcan Society photograph collection

Abstract

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).

Dates / Origin

Date created: 1936

Library locations

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division

Shelf locator: Sc Photo Vulcan Society Collection