Guide to the Curtis E. Green Photograph Collection
Sean Heyliger
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum amp; Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Curtis E. Green Photograph Collection
Collection number: MS 75
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
Oakland, California
- Processed by:
- Sean Heyliger
- Date Completed:
- 10/15/2013
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Curtis E. Green photograph collection
Dates: 1975-1987
Collection number: MS 75
Creator:
Green, Curtis E.
Collection Size:
.1 linear feet
(1 folder)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Abstract: The Curtis E. Green Photograph Collection consists of 11 photographs documenting the Lawson National Distribution Company’s
bus contract with the San Francisco Municipal Railway and the dedication ceremony of the Curtis E. Green Light Rail Center.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Access Restrictions
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Publication Rights
Permission to publish from the Curtis E. Green Photograph Collection must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library
at Oakland.
Preferred Citation
Curtis E. Green photograph collection, MS 75, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland,
California.
Processing Information
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 10/15/2013.
Biography / Administrative History
Curtis E. Green (1924-2002) was the first African American to administer a major U.S. transit system. Born in Louisiana,
he served in the Marine Corps during World War II then moved to San Francisco where he worked as a Muni bus driver beginning
in 1945. He worked as a bus driver for twenty years and was promoted to the Director of Personnel and Safety in 1969 and Deputy
General Manager in 1973. He was promoted again the following year to General Manager of Muni which he would run until his
retirement in 1982.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Curtis E. Green Photograph Collection consists of 11 photographs documenting the Lawson National Distribution Company’s
bus contract with the San Francisco Municipal Railway and the dedication ceremony of the Curtis E. Green Light Rail Center.
Arrangement
Series I. Photographs
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Green, Curtis E.
Newkirk, George L.
San Francisco Municipal Railway.
Transportation--California--San Francisco.
Bibliography
Nolte, Carl.
Curtis E. Green -- rose from bus driver to head of S.F. Muni. SFGate 31 July 2002. Web. 15 October 2013.
Photographs
Physical Description: 11 photographs
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes 11 photographs related to the Lawson National Distribution Company’s bus contract with the San Francisco Municipal
Railway and the dedication ceremony of the Curtis E. Green Light Rail Center.
Arrangement
Arranged by photograph identification number.
Box 1:2
Award ceremony presenting bus procurement contract to minority-owned firm Lawson National Distribution Company, picture (left-right):
John Gilbert, President of the local Transport Workers Union; Harold Geissenheimer, General Manager of San Francisco MUNI;
Mayor Diane Feinstein; Douglas McKay, President of Flyer Independent; Brigid Hynes-Cherin, Region 9 UMTA administrator; Curtis
Green, LND Vice President of Operations; sitting Danny Lawson, LND President; Welton Flynn, Public Utilities Commissioner
[001/008]
1983
Box 1:2
George Newkirk and Curtis Green sitting on bus [002]
1984
Box 1:2
Danny Lawson, President of Lawson National Distribution Company, speaking at podium [003]
1987
Box 1:2
Danny Lawson and Curtis Green having a toast next to Curtis E. Green Light Rail Center plaque [005]
1987
Box 1:2
Curtis E. Green, woman, boy, Danny Lawson, and Welton Flynn standing next to Curtis E. Green Light Rail Center plaque [006]
1987
Box 1:2
Curtis E. Green and five women standing in front of Curtis E. Green Light Rail Center plaque [009]
1987
Box 1:2
Danny Lawson and Mayor Diane Feinstein answering reporters’ questions at press conference [010]
1983
Box 1:2
George Newkirk (center) and two men talking in meeting room [011]
1975
Box 1:2
Curtis E. Green and George Lawson next to Lawson National Distribution Company’s MUNI bus concept drawing [012]
circa 1980s