Guide to the George L. Newkirk Papers

Sean Heyliger
African American Museum and 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 and Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.

Guide to the George L. Newkirk Papers

Collection number: MS 31

African American Museum and Library at Oakland

Oakland, California
Processed by:
Sean Heyliger
Date Completed:
05/03/2013
Encoded by:
Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum and Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: George L. Newkirk papers
Dates: 1967-1993
Collection number: MS 31
Creator: Newkirk, George L.
Creator: San Francisco Municipal Railway.
Collection Size: 2.5 linear feet (5 boxes)
Repository: African American Museum and Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: 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.
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 George L. Newkirk Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

George L. Newkirk papers, MS 31, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Processing Information

Sean Heyliger, 05/03/2013.

Biography / Administrative History

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).

Scope and Content of Collection

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. The majority of the papers are Newkirk’s working files at the San Francisco Municipal Railway and include agreements and correspondence with various union officials, affirmative action, security and reorganization plans, and working papers of disability, drug-use, fiscal advisory, and health and safety committees. Photographs in the collection mostly document award and groundbreaking ceremonies at the San Francisco Municipal Railway. Also in the papers are a small number of biographical items, including Newkirk’s resume, awards, obituary, funeral program, and letters of condolence sent to his wife upon his death in 1993.

Arrangement

Series I. San Francisco Municipal Railway, Director of Labor Relations and Management Development records Series II. Biographical Series III. Photographs

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
San Francisco Municipal Railway.
Newkirk, George L.
Transportation--California--San Francisco.


 

San Francisco Municipal Railway, Director of Labor Relations and Management Development records

Physical Description: 29 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes administrative files maintained by George L. Newkirk as Director of Labor Relations and Management Development for the San Francisco Municipal Railway. Included are union agreements, affirmative action plan, committee working papers, and administrative reports and meeting minutes.
Box 1:1-2

Media file 1985-1989

Box 1:3-4

Fiscal Advisory Committee 1990-1993

Box 1:5

Memorandum of understanding between and for the city and county of San Francisco and Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO and Transport Workers Union, Local 250-A for fiscal year 1980-1981 1980

Box 1:6

Outline of changes that were recently negotiated with amalgamated trust union-local 192 1986

Box 1:7

Proof of payment program 1992

Box 2:1-4

United Public Employees Local 790 1987-1993

Box 2:5

Operations and transportation reorganization plan 1986

Box 2:6

Public Utilities Commission City & County of San Francisco affirmative action plan update 1989

Box 3:1

General manager office meetings 1986-1987

Box 3:4

News media response to juvenile disturbance week of February 8th, 1988 1988

Box 3:5

Video camera file 1989-1991

Box 3:6

Criminal incidents reports 1985-1989

Box 3:7

Draft, Muni security proposal circa 1989

Box 4:1

Working Group on Health and Safety in Muni 1991-1993

Box 4:2

Non-revenue vehicle policy 1986

Box 4:3

Disability Transfer Committee 1989-1990

Box 4:4

City-wide Drug-free Workplace Committee 1989-1992

Box 4:5-6

UMTA drug program 1989-1992

Box 4:7

Joint press briefing 1990

Box 5:1

Request for proposals, organizational analysis 1990

 

Biographical

Physical Description: 6 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes Newkirk's résumé, obituary, letter of condolence sent to his widow upon his death, funeral program, awards, and a folder of assorted correspondence and flyers related to his involvement in the San Francisco Black Leadership Forum and his campaign for the San Francisco Board of Education in 1972.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.
Box 5:2

Résumé undated

Box 5:3

Obituary 1993

Box 5:4

Letters of condolence upon Newkirk’s death 1993

Box 5:5

Funeral program 1993

Box 5:6

Awards 1984-1990

Box 5:7

Assorted 1967-1981

 

Photographs

Physical Description: 56 photographs

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes portraits of Newkirk, and photographs taken at various San Francisco Municipal Railway award banquets and groundbreaking ceremonies.

Arrangement

Arranged by photograph identification number.
Box 5:8

George Newkirk standing in front of birthday cake [001] undated

Box 5:8

George Newkirk standing with two women and man [002] undated

Box 5:8

Portrait of George Newkirk [003 A/B] 1973

Box 5:8

George Newkirk riding a horse in parking lot holding a revolver [004] 1987

Box 5:8

Man shaking hands with transit employee standing next to George Newkirk [005] 1985

Box 5:8

George Newkirk shaking man's hand, Transport Workers Union Local 250A sign in background [006] 1985

Box 5:8

George Newkirk and four men standing behind podium [007] 1985

Box 5:8

George Newkirk and transit employee standing behind podium [008] 1985

Box 5:8

George Newkirk standing with five men [009] 1985

Box 5:8

George Newkirk and transit employee standing behind podium [010] 1985

Box 5:8

George Newkirk standing in banquet hall [011] 1985

Box 5:8

George Newkirk [012] 1985

Box 5:8

George Newkirk and group of men and women looking at building plans [013/014] 1992

Box 5:9

George Newkirk and group of men and women seated at banquet table [015] 1992

Box 5:9

George Newkirk and standing with group of men and women [016] 1991

Box 5:9

George Newkirk and standing with group of men and women, man in center holding an honor award [017] 1988

Box 5:9

George Newkirk and standing with group of men and women, James Chisholm in center holding an honor award [018] 1987

Box 5:9

George Newkirk shaking hands with man [019] 1988

Box 5:9

George Newkirk at podium at Le Méridien Hotel [020/021] 1988

Box 5:9

George Newkirk shaking hands with San Francisco Municipal Railway employee [022] 1987

Box 5:9

George Newkirk shaking hands with Muni employee, Potrero Division sign in background [023] 1988

Box 5:9

George Newkirk shaking hands with Muni employee in front of vending machines [024] 1987

Box 5:9

Two men shaking hands in front of vending machines [025] 1987

Box 5:9

George Newkirk shaking hands with woman [026] 1991

Box 5:9

George Newkirk shaking hands with Angelio Morillo [027] 1988

Box 5:9

George Newkirk speaking to television news reporter [028] 12/17/1988

Box 5:9

George Newkirk standing with two men [029] 1988

Box 5:9

George Newkirk handing Joseph Morrison an outstanding achievement award [030] 1988

Box 5:10

Phyllis Diller posing with George Newkirk and group of men and women [031] 1989

Box 5:10

George Newkirk shaking hands with Muni employee [032] 1985

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and group of men in a meeting [033] 1990

Box 5:10

Men and women sitting in a meeting [034] 1990

Box 5:10

George Newkirk at his desk [035] 1988

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and woman looking at restaurant guide [036] 1985

Box 5:10

Portrait of George Newkirk [037] 1985

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and woman standing at podium, saluting Mary Moore banner in background [038] 1990

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and man and woman seated at dining table [039 A/B] 1990

Box 5:10

George Newkirk talking with police officers [040] 1991

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and man shaking hands [041] undated

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and group of men and women in group photograph [042] 1991

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and group of men and women in group photograph [043/044] 1988

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and Harold Geissenheimer [045] 1983

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and man shaking hands [046] 1983

Box 5:10

Curtis Green and George Newkirk [047] undated

Box 5:10

Group photograph of H. Welton Flynn, Washington Garner, Curtis Green, George Newkirk, and Romaine Smith [048] undated

Box 5:10

Lorraine Newkirk publicity still [049] undated

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and man holding shovel at groundbreaking ceremony [050] 1984

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and two men at Dianne Feinstein campaign event [051] 1990

Box 5:10

Man and three women [052] undated

Box 5:10

George Newkirk standing with two men [053] undated

Box 5:10

Three men and George Newkirk holding shovel at groundbreaking event [054] 1984

Box 5:10

George Newkirk and group of men and women standing in front of cable car [055] 1984

Box 5:10

George Newkirk with group of men and women holding shovel at groundbreaking event [056] 1984