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.)
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 1:3-4
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 5:4
Letters of condolence upon Newkirk’s death
1993
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