If you lock up archivists in their warehouse for a brief time, we start going a little loopy and get some serious work done. So, here’s a glimpse of that work.

One of the projects I’ve taken on during the Main Library closure is processing the offsite Fire Department Collection at our temporary home on Elm Hill Pike. This collection includes a variety of materials, such as administrative records, scrapbooks, a large number of negatives, and logbooks. So far, I’ve only had a chance to work with the logbooks, which will be my main focus in this blog post.

What are Fire Dept. Log Books?

As I explore the Fire Department Collection, I've discovered that the fire logs primarily consist of logbooks for various engine, truck, medic, and ladder companies. Each book typically covers one company over a span of one to two years, serving as a journal for the fire halls. They document activities, calls, alarms, and, in the earlier volumes, which fire alarm box was notified. These logs are often referred to as "run" or "day" books, recording hourly on-duty times and calls. However, as the operations of the Fire Department evolved, the purpose of these ledger books also changed. 

Here are the different logbooks I found and what they include:

The Cool Stuff I've Found

More than just incident reports, payroll details, or lists of fire hall rosters, the collection includes unique artwork, important historical notes, and humorous scribblings.

Some artwork is quite realistic and direct, like what’s found in the Medic logbooks, while others are intriguing doodles likely created by bored Fire Department staff. After going through 191 books, I can confidently say that the Fire Department excelled in record-keeping and has a great sense of humor.

Instead of rambling on, here are a few logbooks to demonstrate my point...

It’s also notable how dedicated the department has been to tracking their members, even after retirement. Several of these books contain information about deceased members, sometimes years after they left the department. Additionally, the Flower Fund book serves as important evidence of the department's commitment to honoring the families of any member who passes away, including their relatives.

I mention this not as a surprise—it's well-known how dedicated firefighters are to their fellow emergency responders—but because there is tangible evidence of this honorable dedication, which you can see for yourself below…

Important Historical Information

While browsing through these logbooks, I've also come across some fascinating information outside of fire details, including notes on historical events such as the damage to downtown buildings after the 1933 tornadoes and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Beyond the details and doodles, why are these books important to Nashville history?

Similar to my favorite item in our collection—the Nashville Weather Reports—the significance of these books lies in the everyday details they provide, which can contribute to a variety of research purposes. For example, most of the run books begin with a roster of staff at the company. This information would be highly valuable for someone researching genealogy in Nashville, especially if they had a relative who worked for the Fire Department. Some of the later books even include the staff member's address, phone number, and sometimes their spouse's name.

Additionally, the inspection book highlights the damage from the 1933 tornado, documenting addresses, companies, and buildings. This information is invaluable for anyone researching properties, businesses, or aspects of the city's infrastructure and physical landscape.

Other Bits and Pieces

Lastly, a few other details regarding the books themselves...

The Brandon Printing Company

I’ve come across this printing company multiple times during my research, and it has piqued my interest enough that I’m planning a future blog post dedicated solely to its history. Many readers may already be familiar with the name and have insights into the company’s background, but it’s definitely on my research to-do list.

Additionally, some of the ledgers contained loose documents and clippings that I've organized into folders for better preservation. The context adds depth to many of the notes, but there's one particular discovery that feels especially serendipitous with the election just around the corner. 

And lastly, some of these ledger books serve as more than just records of daily activities at the fire stations; they also include details like truck maintenance reports and hall upkeep. Together, these books weave a rich, contextual history of the Nashville Fire Department.

As I continue processing this collection, be sure to follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram) for highlights of other intriguing finds!

'Til next time, 

Sarah