James H. Williams and the Red Caps: A Boss in Grand Central Terminal

Winner of the Herbert H. Lehman Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in New York History and the GANYC Apple Award for Outstanding Book Writing (Nonfiction), Eric K. Washington's latest work has also been named a finalist for the Brendan Gill Prize by the Municipal Art Society of New York. The Open Letters Review included it in their list of the 10 Best Biographies of 2019, while The Bowery Boys Podcast listed it as one of their 10 Favorite Books of the year.

In this long-overdue biography, Washington delves into the life of James H. Williams (1878–1948), the chief porter of Grand Central Terminal’s Red Caps. These Harlem-based black men, organized by Williams, formed the backbone of America’s most prestigious railroad station. Despite the racialized and often exploitative nature of the work, the role of Red Cap was sought after by college-bound black men aspiring to join New York's growing middle class.

Through meticulous research, Washington brings to light Williams's forgotten story, showcasing how he, the son of freed slaves, navigated the segregated world of the northern metropolis to achieve financial and social prominence. The biography explores the intertwined themes of class, labor, and African American history, positioning Williams alongside the likes of Cornelius Vanderbilt and Jacqueline Onassis as one of the key figures in Grand Central’s illustrious past.

Featuring 80 photographs, Washington's reclamation of Williams's legacy sheds light on an essential yet overlooked aspect of American history, cementing Williams's status as a hero in the narrative of Grand Central Terminal.

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