The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum will host a special celebration on Saturday, May 31, 2025, honoring the legacy of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) and the families who have helped preserve it. Designated as “BSCP National Donation Day,” the occasion will highlight a significant contribution from the family of Porter John C. Mills, including Mrs. Rebecca Mills and the Gazdik family of Northern Wisconsin.
The commemorative event will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the museum’s campus, located at 10406 South Maryland Avenue, with the entrance at 817 East 104th Street. The ceremony will feature the official unveiling of historical artifacts donated by the Mills and Gazdik families, followed by a community lunch and storytelling session.
“Today is a celebration of history, family, and community,” said Dr. Lyn Hughes, founder of the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum. “We are grateful for the generosity of the Mills and Gazdik families, whose contributions help ensure that the legacy of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters continues to inspire and educate. We look forward to sharing these stories with visitors for generations to come.”
The donation includes uniforms, letters, photographs, and memorabilia that belonged to John C. Mills, a Pullman porter whose service and legacy reflect the strength and dignity of a generation of African American men who helped lay the foundation for the modern civil rights movement. These items will be permanently archived at the museum to deepen public understanding of the BSCP and its historical significance.
The day’s events will begin with the family’s arrival at 1:00 p.m., followed by a press conference at 1:30 p.m. to formally acknowledge and thank the donors and supporters. At 2:00 p.m., the donated artifacts will be unveiled in a special ceremony, offering visitors a rare look at personal belongings that document the lived experiences of porters.
A community lunch will follow at 2:30 p.m., allowing attendees to gather with the Mills and Gazdik families, share memories, and engage in discussions about the enduring impact of the Pullman Porters. At 3:00 p.m., the museum will host a session for archiving, documentation, and storytelling, collecting personal narratives that will help contextualize the artifacts and further preserve the oral history of the BSCP.
The Pullman Porters were the first organized Black labor union in the United States to be recognized by a major corporation, marking a pivotal moment in the struggle for labor rights and racial justice. The museum, founded in 1995, remains a cultural institution dedicated to educating the public about the contributions of the porters and their role in American history.
The event underscores the museum’s continued mission to serve as a national repository for the artifacts, stories, and achievements of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Through events like BSCP National Donation Day, the museum seeks to honor both the historical figures who shaped the union and the descendants who continue to safeguard their memory.
For more information about the museum and its programming, visit thepullmanportersmuseum.org.