The Firefighters Collection

The Capitol Fire

Perhaps it's no surprise that the New York State Library has such a focus on firefighting, since the Library was itself saved by firefighters from the devastation of a fire that swept through the Capitol Building in March 1911. Albany City firefighters worked through that long, grueling night and into the next day to save the building that was home to the Library. Many of the historic documents and other items in the Library's collection still bear burnt and singed edges from that night.

Images from "Sparks" from the New York State capitol fire, Albany, N.Y., March 29, 1911, Coulson & Wendt, [1911]
Call Number: 725.11 qC85

More images: Photos of the Capitol Fire of 1911