Archives and Special Collections
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360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

Printable Finding Aid. Back to Browsing Version.

Collection Overview
Title:Boston Society of Vulcans of Massachusetts records
Dates:1951-2004 (bulk 1970-2000)
Location:58/3
Call Number:M131
Volume:6.85 cubic ft. (9 boxes)
Scope and Content Abstract:The collection documents the administrative and public efforts of the Boston Society of Vulcans to raise the number of minorities in the Boston Fire Department; to support and council those employed within the fire service; to promote and teach fire safety, CPR, and community first aid training in designated high-risk neighborhoods; and to serve as a watchdog entity for the concerns of minorities employed within the fire service. Record types include organizational correspondence, legal documentation, budget reports, newspaper clippings, fundraising material, negatives, photographs, audiocassettes, newsletters, documents from the annual Lloyd Phillips Scholarship, and memorabilia. Also documented is the International Association for Black Professional Firefighters (IABPFF), its function as the leader of organizations like the Boston Society of Vulcans, as well as many of the member organizations that made up the IABPFF.
Historical Abstract:The Boston Society of Vulcans of Massachusetts was founded in 1971 for the recruitment of African American and other minorities into the fire service. In 1972 the Boston Society of Vulcans, with assistance from the NAACP, Attorney Thomas Mela, and the Justice Department, filed a class action suit against the Civil Service Commission, which resulted in the City of Boston having to hire minorities on a one to one basis until they represented 26% of the fire fighting force. In addition to recruiting, the Vulcan Society also works to create more upward mobility for minority firefighters, as well as performing charitable activity for local communities.
Arrangement:Organized into four series: 1. Administration; 2. Programs and Recruitment; 3. Outside Organizations; and 4. Audio and Visual Material.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Robert Powell

  • The Boston Society of Vulcans of Massachusetts
  • The International Association of Black Professional Firefighters

  • Firefighters -- Massachusetts -- Boston
  • Boston (Mass.)--Race relations
Restrictions:Personnel Records are restricted for 75 years from the date of their creation.
Related Materials:

Processor: Finding aid prepared by David Barnett, June 29, 2007.

Scope and Content Note

The collection documents the administrative and public efforts of the Boston Society of Vulcans to raise the number of minorities in the Boston Fire Department; to support and council minorities within the fire service; to promote and teach fire safety, CPR, and community first aid training in designated high-risk neighborhoods; and to serve as a watchdog entity for the concerns of minorities employed within the fire service.

Record types include organizational correspondence, legal documentation, budget reports, newspaper clippings, fundraising material, negatives, photographs, audiocassettes, newsletters, documents from the annual Lloyd Phillips Scholarship, and memorabilia. The International Association of Black Professional Firefighters is made up of many individual organizations similar to the BSV, this collection also documents the activities of those organizations and the IABPFF. Also documented is the International Association for Black Professional Firefighters' function as the leader of member organizations such as the Boston Society of Vulcans, as well as many of the other member organizations that made up the IABPFF.

Historical Note

The Boston Society of Vulcans of Massachusetts was founded in 1971 for the recruitment of African American and other minorities into the fire service. In 1972 the Boston Society of Vulcans, with assistance from the NAACP, Attorney Thomas Mela, and the Justice Department, filed a class action suit against the Civil Service Commission, which resulted in the City of Boston having to hire minorities on a one to one basis until minorities represented 26% of the fire fighting force. In addition to recruiting, the Vulcan Society also works to create more upward mobility for minority firefighters, as well as performing charitable activity for local communities. Their mission statement is, "To serve as an advocate for the recruitment, support and advancement through the ranks and fair treatment of people of color in the fire service: to empower the low income and high risk communities of Boston through fire and life safety training, positive cultural activities and charitable support." (www.bostonvulcans.org) The Vulcan Society, with the cooperation of the Boston Fire Department, recruited and counseled people from 1976 to the present. In 1988, the Lloyd Phillips Scholarship Fund was established to assist students in the community to meet college costs. From the efforts of the Vulcan Society, other organizations and community leaders, the Boston Fire Department figures have increased from 18 in 1976, to over 500 African American and Hispanic firefighters in 2004.

The parent organization to the Boston Society of Vulcans is the International Association for Black Professional Firefighters (IABPFF). It the a unifying body for its many member organizations. In September of 1969, African American and minority fire fighters of all ranks from municipalities across the United States met in New York City for two days of discussion on the recruitment of minority youth into the fire service, firefighters-community relations, and the need to improve fire prevention programs in the areas of greatest need. Out of this meeting the International Association for Black Professional Firefighters was formed, it held its first convention in Hartford, Connecticut in 1970. The IABPFF defines its purpose and aims as: "To create a liaison between our Black Brothers and Sisters across the nation, to collect and evaluate data on all deleterious conditions incumbent in all areas where minorities exist in the working conditions in the Fire Service, and implement action to correct them. To promote interracial progress throughout the Fire Service, and to see that competent Blacks are recruited and employed as firefighters, wherever they reside, and to aid in motivating our Black Brothers and Sisters to seek advancement to elevated ranks throughout the Fire Service." (http://www.iabpff.org/index2.htm).
Presidents
1972-1976Charles Parris
1977-1980Roy E. Burrill
1981-1986Robert Powell
1987-1990Stanley D. Moore
1991-1996Walter Porter
Bibliography

www.bostonvulcans.org

http://www.iabpff.org/index2.htm
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Series:
1. Administration, 1951-2004
Volume:2 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Summary:

The Administration Series documents the operational activities of the Boston Society of Vulcans including correspondence, monthly membership meetings, newsletters, legal activities, events, financial documents, fundraising events, publicity articles, and news clippings. The legal documents deal with many of the important changes that took place within the fire department's policies, covering affirmative action in the hiring process, upward mobility reports, charges against minority firefighters, and the Proposition 2 ½. This series also covers the Northeast Regional Meetings, where chapters from the Northeast Region of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters would gather in one city to share knowledge and discuss organizational direction.
BoxTitleDate
1Articles of Organization1971-1983, n.d.
1Constitution1994, n.d.
Correspondence
1General (10 folders)1951-2000, n.d.
1Letters to City Commissioner1979-2000
1Letters to Membership (3 folders)1980-1989
1Robert Powell (2 folders)1979-2000, n.d.
1Smokestack Hardy1973-1978
1Thank You Lettersn.d
Events
1, FF5/D5General1981-2002
1Carnival1991-1992
1Kite Festival1983-1986
1Ticketsn.d.
Fiscal
1General1980-1997
148 Geneva Avenue1992
1Accountant's Review1984
1Auditor's Report1983
1Building and Site Survey Forms1985-1989
1Coats and Hats1993
1Dues Payments (2 folders, restricted) 1991
1Monthly Treasurer's Reports1991-1994
1The Centre Street Building1983-1986
1History1969-2000
Legal
1General (10 folders)1969-2001
1Charges on Discipline (4 folders)1980-2000
1In the Supreme Court, October Term1982
1Legal Defense Committee1990
2Numbers of Minority Firefighters (2 folders, 1 restricted)1977-2000
2Prepaid Legal Services2000
2Problems in the Firehouse1980-1996
2Proposition 2 ½1981-1983
2Seminar on Discipline1990
2Toni Wolfman: Legal Services1989-1998
2Upward Mobility Reports1993
Meetings
2General1983-1999
2Agendas (3 folders)1970-2001
2Attendance and Sign in Sheets1990-1999
2Elections1979-2001, n.d.
2Executive Board (2 folders)1985-1999
2Handwritten Notes (7 folders)1980-2000, n.d.
2Member Lists1979-1990, n.d.
2Minutes (7 folders)1970-2000, n.d.
Northeast Regional
2Meetings (9 folders)1970-2003
2Reports1983-2000
2Rosters1980-1989, n.d.
2Workshops1969-2002
Publicity
2, FF5/D5General1969-2002
2Firehouse Magazine1998
3News Clippings (6 folders)1970-2003
3Newsletters (3 folders)1983-2002
3Obituaries, Firefighters1991-2004, n.d
3Public Service Announcements1972-1978, n.d.
3Scrapbook News Clippings (2 folders)1994-2001
3Speeches, Members1987, 1998, n.d.
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Series:
2. Programs and Recruitment, 1969-2002
Volume:1 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

The Programs and Recruitment Series documents the outreach activities of the Boston Society of Vulcans, activities in fire awareness and prevention for local communities, recruiting efforts towards minorities for the Boston Fire Department, the Lloyd Phillips Scholarship Award program, and charitable undertakings.
BoxTitleDate
3Fire Prevention1988-1997
Firefighters Exam
3Fire Manuals1969, n.d.
3Notesn.d.
3Practice Exams (9 folders)1957-1985, n.d.
3Study Material1973-1998, n.d.
3"Top It" Study Classes1992, n.d
3, FF5/D5Fundraising Dances (2 folders)1980-2002
Lloyd Phillips Award
3Programs1988-2001
3Scholarship (7 folders)1988-1999, n.d.
3Open House1983
3Sick and Relief1985-1997
3Turkey Baskets (3 folders)1983-1999, n.d.
4, FF5/D5Recruitment (6 folders)1970-2002, n.d.
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Series:
3. Outside Organizations, 1970-2002, n.d.
Volume:3.35 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

The Outside Organizations series documents organizations affiliated with the Boston Society of Vulcans, including other chapters of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, the Boston Fire Department, and the Local 718 Firefighters Union. Records include correspondence, newsletters, and organizational reports.
BoxTitleDate
Boston Fire Department
4General1970-1999
4Firefighters Work Logn.d.
9Fire Helmetn.d.
4General Orders (4 folders)1973-1976
4Local 718 (2 folders)1971-1987, n.d.
4, 7, 8Local 718 Boston Firefighters Digest (3 folders, 2 boxes)1968-1990
4Review Commission: The Challenge2000
4Rules and Regulations1976
International Association of Black Professional Firefighters (IABPFF)
4General (5 folders)1970-2000, n.d.
4Constitution and Bylaws1970, 1988, n.d.
4Conventions (8 folders)1970-2000, n.d.
5Convention Programs1974-1994
5Correspondence (9 folders)1970-2000, n.d.
5Executive Board Minutes1991-1997
5Fiscal (6 folders)1970-2000
5Newsletters1975-1994, n.d
5President's Report1988
5SMOKE Newsletters1985-1991
Other Outside Organizations
5General (6 folders)1970-2002, n.d.
5Event Programs1979-1993
5Histories1970, n.d.
5Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officersn.d., 1983-2001
5Organizational Reports (4 folders)1980-2000, n.d.
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Series:
4. Audio and Visual Material, 1972-2003, n.d.
Volume:0.50 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

The Audio Visual Series contains audiocassettes of the Boston Society of Vulcans' meetings and conventions, and images of the Society's activities, including conventions, local meetings, Northeast Regional Meetings, and the Lloyd Phillips Scholarship Award.
BoxTitleDate
Audiocassettes
Conventions
6Unidentified Convention Recordingn.d.
6Carl Homes, Speaker1978
6Newark, New Jersey (2 cassettes)1982, n.d.
6Dinner Speeches 1972
6General Session, Workshop Report1972
6General Sessions, Dick Gregory1974
6Hartford, Connecticut1988
6Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1973, 1982
6Recruitment (2 cassettes)1973-1974
6St. Louis, Missouri (2 Cassettes)n.d.
6Halloween Masquerade Radio Commercial1997
Meetings
6Executive Board Meeting (5 cassettes)1983-1990, n.d.
6Northeast Regional Meetings (5 cassettes)1973-1982
6Meeting on Legal Rights1990
6Mela Meetingn.d.
6Monthly Meetings (9 cassettes)1972-1993
6Percy Richardson Interview1973
6Workshops (2 cassettes)1972-1980
6Press Release1981
6Recording of Detroit Dance1980
Negatives
5Unidentified1982-1983
5General1982-2002
5Conventions1984-2002, n.d.
5Fire Crews1982-2000
5Meetings1990-2003, n.d.
5Northeast Regional Meetings (2 folders)1983-2003
Programs and Events
5General1980-2003
5Lloyd Phillips Scholarship1988-2002
5Prints, General (2 folders)n.d.
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