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Guide to the George L. Newkirk Papers
MS 31
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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
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Permission to publish from the George L. Newkirk Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.
George L. Newkirk papers, MS 31, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
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.
Series I. San Francisco Municipal Railway, Director of Labor Relations and Management Development records
Series II. Biographical
Series III. Photographs
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.