On Friday, December 11, from noon until 1 p.m., the Georgia Archives’ Microsoft Teams’ virtual Lunch and Learn live event will be available to the public. A Brief History of the Atlanta Fire Department will be presented by former Atlanta fire chief Joe Tolbert.

  Chief Joe Tolbert was born and raised in the City of Atlanta. He is a fifth generation Atlanta Firefighter. His great-great-grand-father began the family tradition of working in the fire service with the Atlanta Volunteer Fire Department in 1870. Chief Tolbert joined the Atlanta Fire Department in 1972. He has served in every rank and capacity within the Atlanta Fire Department, up to and including acting Fire Chief. During his career he held the following ranks: Apparatus Operator, Bomb Technician, Chief’s Aide, Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chief.  He attended Georgia State University and Brenau College. He is a certified Fire Instructor, Safety Officer, Fire Investigator and Hazardous Materials Technician.

  During his career, Chief Tolbert  received numerous citations and commendations for heroism and bravery. These awards include the Phoenix Award, given by Mayor Andrew Young, and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, given by Congressman John Lewis.

  Chief Tolbert retired from the Atlanta Fire-Rescue Department in 2005. He joined the East Point Fire Department as the Deputy Chief of Field Operations in 2005. He left East Point in 2006 to pursue full-time his Public Safety Consulting Business that he began as a part-time venture in 1982.   

    The link to the live event is: https://tinyurl.com/y4nbdt35  Please try the link before the day of the presentation to see if it works. If the link works you will see “December Lunch and Learn – A Brief History of the Atlanta Fire Department.” If you prefer to watch on the web, when the link asks you to open Microsoft Teams, click cancel, and then click “Watch on the web instead.” 

   The link for the live event will also be posted on the Georgia Archives’ Facebook page on Friday morning, December 11.  Microsoft Teams currently supports these browsers: Internet Explorer II, Microsoft Edge, RS2 or later, the latest version of Chrome, and the latest version of Firefox. 

  If you plan on using an iPhone or tablet, you may have to download the Teams app. 

  The virtual Lunch and Learn will be uploaded to their YouTube channel “Georgia Archives,” and on their Programs and Education page at www.georgiaarchives.org/visit/programs. To be notified when videos are uploaded to our YouTube channel, go to our channel and press subscribe. It is free.

  Lunch and Learn Programs are sponsored by Friends of Georgia Archives and History (FOGAH).

If you have any questions, please email Penny Cliff before December 11 at penelope.cliff@usg.edu.