Vulcan Society facts for kids
The Vulcan Society, founded in 1940, is a group of Black firefighters in New York City. It was created to support Black firefighters and fight against unfair treatment.
Contents
History
Early Black Firefighters
After a big court decision in 1896 (called Plessy v. Ferguson), which allowed "separate but equal" facilities, job chances for Black men slowly grew. On December 6, 1898, William H. Nicholson became the first Black fireman in the paid New York City Fire Department (FDNY). He worked with horses at Engine Company 6 in Brooklyn. Before him, a female slave named Molly Williams had served in the volunteer fire department in 1818.
The second Black fireman, John H. Woodson, joined on September 21, 1914. Unlike Nicholson, Woodson was a regular firefighter. He even won a medal for bravery in 1916. Woodson wrote a letter to Wesley Augustus Williams, another Black fireman, warning him about the challenges. He mentioned "jealous and narrow minded men" and advised Williams to stay neutral in arguments.
Wesley Augustus Williams: A Pioneer
Wesley Williams joined the FDNY in 1919. He was incredibly strong and scored perfectly on the physical exam. He was only the second person in FDNY history to do so. Later, he even became a heavyweight boxing champion.
When Williams reported for duty at Engine Company 55, the captain retired to avoid working with a Black fireman. Other firefighters tried to transfer out. The department stopped these transfers for a year. Williams was often ignored and not given clear instructions. In one dangerous fire, he was left alone in a smoky cellar to fight flames, but he bravely put out the fire. This showed everyone how courageous he was.
Fighting Segregation
Williams faced a lot of unfair treatment. For example, the bed assigned to him was always the same one, often next to the toilet. No white firefighter would use it, even after it was cleaned. This "black bed" became a symbol of unfairness in many firehouses.
Williams was also an excellent driver. When the department started using new motorized fire trucks, he was assigned as a driver. This made some white firefighters angry because he was Black and didn't have much seniority. However, he was the most skilled driver.
Williams found a quiet spot on the firehouse roof to exercise and study. He was also a great boxer. He even won the FDNY heavyweight boxing championship in 1924.
In 1920, Williams bravely rescued six people, including five children, from a burning building in Harlem. Two reporters saw it, and a newspaper article praised him. But his captain refused to report his heroism for a department award.
Williams was promoted to lieutenant in 1927 and then to captain in 1934. He became a Battalion Chief in 1938. He insisted on being assigned to a regular firehouse, not a desk job, so white firefighters would learn to take orders from a Black officer. This was a big step forward.
The Vulcan Society is Born
By 1937, there were 20 Black firefighters in the FDNY. They faced many challenges, including the "Jim Crow bed" and being assigned the dirtiest jobs. Fireman Walter Thomas, who later became a teacher, wrote about these unfair practices. Black firefighters were often given the heaviest and toughest jobs, like carrying the 35-pound extinguisher up many flights of stairs.
Chief Williams realized that Black firefighters needed to organize themselves to fight these injustices. He encouraged them to form their own group but chose not to lead it himself. In 1940, the Vulcan Society was officially created.
Some people thought forming a separate Black organization was wrong. But the society believed it was necessary to fight for equal opportunities and promotions. In 1944, the Vulcan Society surveyed the department to show how widespread discrimination was. They presented their findings to the New York City Council, accusing the FDNY of deliberate discrimination. After this, small changes began to happen. Black firefighters slowly started getting better assignments, like driving fire trucks.
Progress and Community Work
In 1946, a new Fire Commissioner, Frank J. Quayle Jr., helped improve things. He met with department groups to discuss their problems. Under his leadership and the next commissioner, Jacob B. Grumet, the "Jim Crow bed" finally disappeared. The Vulcan Society grew as more Black firefighters joined.
From its start, the Vulcan Society was active in the community. They ran fire prevention programs in Harlem and helped recruit more minority firefighters. They also worked with other groups, like the New York City Police Department's "Guardians," who were also fighting for recognition. The society organized basketball games to raise money for hospitals in Harlem. They also became the first organization to be a lifetime member of the NAACP, a major civil rights group.
First Black Fire Commissioner
Robert O. Lowery became a fireman in 1941. He later became a fire marshal, investigating the causes of fires. He was very good at his job and received awards for catching criminals. Lowery was also a very active member of the Vulcan Society, serving as its president for many years.
In 1963, the Vulcan Society asked Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. to appoint a Black person to a high-level position in the fire department. They gathered over 20,000 signatures to show community support. On November 19, 1963, Mayor Wagner appointed Robert O. Lowery as Deputy Fire Commissioner.
Then, on January 1, 1966, Robert O. Lowery made history. He became the first Black Fire Commissioner of a major city in the United States.
First Female President
In 2015, Regina Wilson was elected as the Vulcan Society's first female president. She was a 16-year veteran of the FDNY and an instructor at the FDNY Academy. She was also one of only 10 African-American women in the entire 10,000-person FDNY at the time. Her election was a historic moment for the organization.
Medals
In 1965, the FDNY created the Chief Wesley Williams Medal for Valor. This medal is given to firefighters who show great bravery.
Some of the winners include:
- George J Jablonsky, 1965
- Joseph H. Gates, 1966
- Michael Maye, 1967
- William J. Tursellino, 1968
- Edward J. Fusco, 1969
- Richard C. Donovan, 1970
- Chester P. Checkett, 1971
- Richard J. Rittmeyer, 1972
- Harold N. Taylor, 1973
- Charles F.Magrath II, 1974
- Thomas F. Kelly II, 1975
- George W. Hear, Jr., 1976
- Harrison Mckay, 1977
- Albert A. Inglese, 1978
- Thomas J. Potter, 1979
- Ralph L. Oliver, Jr., 1980
- James J. Corcoran, 1981
- James F. Stark, 1982
- Edward P.Moriarty, 1983
- John R. Mcallister, 1984
- Dennis W. Williams, 1985
- Richard P.Kearns, 1986
- Sheldon George 1992
- Carl G. Havens, 1991
- James D. Smith, 2012
- Michael Perrone, 2014
Other awards issued:
- Darrell S. Dennison, 2006, Thomas A. Wylie Medal
- Brian E. Pascascio, 2007, Arthur J Laufer Memorial Medal
Images for kids
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Early Engine, Wesley Williams at front of pumper wagon by Engine 55 quarters. Photo:New York City Fire Museum.
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Firefighter Wesley Williams; Engineer of Steamer operating Christie Tractor at 363 Broome St; Engine 55 in Little Italy NYC; circa 1920. The tractor had 2 wheels and pulled the steam fire engine (rear end with large wheels) in place of the Percheron draft horses.
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55¢ stamp depicts a Vulcan Rescue
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Image of the Chief Wesley Williams Medal for valor FDNY
Further sources
- Smith, Terrence (Nov 24th, 1965) Lindsay selects negro as first fire commissioner, New York Times
- United States of America and Vulcan Society, Inc. v. City of New York
- Goldberg, David (2020). Black Firefighters and the FDNY: the struggle for jobs, justice, and equity in New York City. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN: 978-1-4696-6146-9
