The George L. Newkirk Papers consist of photographs, biographical material, and administrative files created while Newkirk served as the Director of Labor Relations and Management Development at the San Francisco Municipal Railway between 1985-1993.

George L. Newkirk (1941-1993) was born on July 10, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan. After attending public schools in Michigan, Newkirk joined the military in 1960 and was transferred to Travis Air Force Base. After leaving the military, he moved to San Francisco and began working as a loan officer at Wells Fargo Bank while finishing his bachelor and master’s degrees in sociology and speech at San Francisco State University. He was appointed contract compliance officer for the San Francisco Utilities Commission in 1973, where he was responsible for overseeing compliance with federal minority hiring and contract regulations. In 1978, Newkirk was named the director of the Minority Business Enterprise, Contract Compliance and Affirmative Action Office. After serving as a field support manager beginning in 1982, he was eventually named the Director of Labor Relations and Management Development at the San Francisco Municipal Railway. He served as a lead negotiator on the labor-management negotiating team and worked with the unions to solve labor issues. Newkirk was also active in many social and civic organizations serving as President of the San Francisco Black Leadership Forum (1976-1979), Board President of the Council for Civic Unity (1977-1979), and Board President of the Christian Welfare, Growth, and Development Center (1972-1975).

2.5 linear feet (5 boxes)

Permission to publish from the George L. Newkirk Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.