Chicago Fire and Safety Leadership Celebrate Museum Installation Opening and Historic Film Premiere

Guests gathered at the Chicago History Museum on Aug. 25, 2026, to celebrate the opening of an exhibit installation honoring the legacy of Underwriters Laboratories and the city the UL enterprise has called home for over 130 years. 

Attendees included representatives from UL Research Institutes, UL Standards & Engagement, and UL Solutions, as well as members of the Chicago Fire Department and community partners. 

The permanent installation, “The Symbol of Safety: The Story of Underwriters Laboratories and the Creation of Safety Science,” chronicles the organization’s founding and its century-long impact on fire and electrical research, product testing, and public safety. 

“Our history is important in its own right. But it also helps us understand the work our organizations are carrying forward today,” said ULRI President and CEO James J. Hudgens, Ph.D., in his opening remarks alongside Alex Dadakis, president of testing, inspection and certification at ULS, and Lee Goodall, chief of staff at ULSE. 

The evening kicked off with a screening of Underwriters Laboratories’ newly restored 1917 silent film, An Unbeliever Convinced — the first public viewing in possibly 100 years. Filmed in Chicago, featuring local actors and real firefighters, the fictional story underscores the themes of public safety, industrial progress, and city history captured throughout the museum’s exhibit. 

Following the screening, a short panel brought together key restoration partners and fire service professionals to discuss the film’s persisting relevance. 

Dino Everett, who conducted the film’s restoration, gave insight into the extensive work required to take the film reel from small shards to premiere-ready. Everett is an archivist at the HMH Moving Image Archive at the University of Southern California School for Cinematic Arts. 

Steve Kerber, Ph.D., vice president and executive director of ULRI’s Fire Safety Research Institute, expressed his team’s amazement at the early firefighting tactics shown in the film while Douglas Crowley, district chief of the Chicago Fire Department, reiterated the enduring importance of meeting audiences where they are when conveying safety messages.

The discussion was moderated by ULRI’s vice president of corporate communications and public relations, Kristen Delphos, a champion of the project.  

Chicago History Museum President and CEO, Michael Anderson, and Head Archivist of the UL Archives, Alan K. Akers, then welcomed attendees to enjoy exclusive access to the museum exhibit.  

“I hope visitors will take pride in learning about the organization, born right here in Chicago, that created safety science to make their world a safer place,” said Akers. “Or in the words of our founder, ‘to do something for humanity.’” 

Throughout the night, Akers and Senior Archivist Hannah Zuber walked viewers through the exhibit’s photographs, documents, and objects, including a soda acid fire extinguisher, 1940s Christmas lights, and a battery-powered smoke alarm — examples of Underwriters Laboratories safety inspection through the years.   

The installation is part of the larger “Chicago: Crossroads of America” exhibition which highlights the city’s cultural impact on the nation and beyond. During the event, attendees were also encouraged to explore accompanying installations on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, events that punctuate the organization’s mission and history. 

“Our commitment to safety has always been about more than standards and testing. It’s about connecting with people and communities, and the Chicago History Museum does just that,” said Tina Vaughn, senior manager of community affairs and engagement for ULRI and ULSE. “A permanent exhibition ensures that UL’s legacy, the legacy of safety science, will be preserved for future generations.” 

The Symbol of Safety: The Story of Underwriters Laboratories and the Creation of Safety Science is available to view now at the Chicago History Museum. 

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