Pullman Porters and Maids On Zoom

In honor of the 2025 Black History Month theme, “African Americans and Labor,” learn about the rich history of the Pullman porters and maids from Janice Lovelace, PhD.  The Pullman Company, headquartered in Chicago, was one of the leading employers of African Americans, primarily male Porters, who worked on the railroad in the late 19th and early 20th century. This presentation will look briefly at the general growth of the railroad as well as the Pullman Company which built rail cars and rented them to rail companies. Pullman hired primarily African American men and women to staff the dining and sleeping cars. What was the job like and what were lives like for the Porters and Maids? How do we find records of ancestors who were Pullman Porters or Maids?

This program will take place on Zoom. Please register to receive the event link.

Sponsored by the Normal Public Library Foundation.