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Charles Coleman Collection of The Guardians Association Newsletters, 1986-2015 2.5 linear feet

Coleman, Charles

The Charles Coleman papers consist of two record cartons containing records, drafts, back issues, and correspondence relating to the Guardian newsletter, the official publication of The Guardians, the oldest organization dedicated to representing African-American police offices in the NYPD. This collection is related to oral history interviews conducted with Coleman and other members of the Guardians. We intend to acquire other collections from group members which will together create a linked collection telling a comprehensive history of this significant organization.

  1. Rare Book & Manuscript Library

New York Police Department Guardians Oral History Collection, 2015-2016 .75 linear feet

The fourteen interviews of the NYPD Guardians oral history collection document the history of the fraternal organization and the experiences of members as police officers in New York City. The New York Police Department Guardians Association was founded in 1943 and recognized by the NYPD as a fraternal organization in 1949. Over the years it has served African American officers and civilian employees of the NYPD by developing community; providing education and mentorship; advocating within the department; and taking legal action to combat discrimination in hiring and promotion. The narrators discuss the impact of the Guardians on officers' careers, the group's advocacy against discrimination in the NYPD, and developments in police work from the 1960s-2010s.
  1. Oral History Archives at Columbia