Month: March 2022

Fannie Rosencrantz

1881-? Called by the Evening Star the first female dentist in Newark. Born in Russia. Graduated the Pennsylvania College of … More

Betty Lester

1945-2021 Worked in Public Defenders Office. In 1977 appointed a Municipal Court Judge at age 31. In 1985 appointed to … More

Laura Mayo Wilson

1871-1963 First woman to graduate the New Jersey Law School, along with Lulu Kinsgsland Garrabrant (who was never admitted to … More

Elitea Bulkley Allison

c. 1913 -2007 Received her graduate degree of Library Science in 1936, starting in Orangeburg South Carolina. Bachlor’s from Claflin … More

Eleta Caldwell

1945-2017 Principal at Arts High School 1991-2003, previously Chair of Art and teacher. Artist, co-founded the 1980s, “Black Women in … More

Gladyce Black Sherman

1908-1995 Artist and educator. Member of the faculty of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts for over 20 … More

Mildred Lockett Lipscombe

1922-? Another of the library’s first Black librarians, hired 8 years after Theresa Moore. After graduating Virginia Union University, and … More

Elizabeth Albright Spurr

1870-1934 Newark native and lifelong resident. Founder of the Newark Branch of the Red Cross in 1917. She was also … More

Mina C. Ginger Van Winkle

1875-1930 Well known suffragist. Her mother Hilda is listed in Newark from at least 1889 (“H Ginger, watches”). She graduated … More

Theresa Swartz Grotta

1836-1922 Bohemian Jewish immigrant. Worked tirelessly on behalf of needy families in Newark, president of Hebrew Ladies Immediate Relief Society … More

Louise Connolly

1862-1927 Supervisor of grammar grades Newark Pubic Schools (1902). Became associated with Public library. About 1906-1910, served as superintendent in … More

Wilma Jackson Grey

1945- Image from Newark Library First African American woman to Direct Newark Public Library. Library employee for 46 years. Graduated … More

Dr. Mildred Gregory

1884-1975 Raised in Newark. Graduated Wellesley and taught at Skidmore College until 1924. Then attended Columbia College of Physicians graduating … More

Barbara George

c. 1953-2000 First woman and first African American woman police captain. Weequahic graduate. Sharpe James called her a “trailblazer, role … More

Margaret Coult

1860-1930 Head of the English department for the Newark high school system and a teacher at Barringer for many years. … More

Margaretta T Craven

c. 1853-1935 Founded Miss Craven’s School in Newark, opened in Spring 1875. Craven retired in 1915 and the school was … More

Anna F Whitmore

1848-May 22, 1934 Founder of girls school: the Newark Seminary. Lifelong Newark resident. She was principal of the school until … More

Dr. Eleanor Haines

1845-1924* First woman admitted to the Medical Society of NJ in 1876. Practiced in Newark for over 50 years. Affiliated … More

Sarah Fawcett

1846-1899 First supervisor of drawing in Newark. She had a “strong personality which was a combination of the clean-cut principles … More

Trish Morris-Yamba

1944*-2019 Founded the CHEN School. She was recognized as a visionary in the field of early childhood education. She was … More

Sandra King

1948- Born in Newark. Weequahic Class of 1965. Graduated from Rutgers Newark. Board of Newark Library, Branch Brook Park, and … More

Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto

1951- First woman and Latina President of United Way of Essex and Hudson. She was the first Hispanic elected Essex … More

Myrna Milan-Rivera

1954- First Hispanic Newark municipal judge in 1988. Active with the Puerto Rican Congress and Aspira. In 1992, she was … More

Mary E. Cary Burrell

1866-1949 Born in Virginia. Strong member of NJ State Federation of Women’s Clubs from 1915, running the Legislative Department, while … More

Mary Thompson King

c. 1806 – 19 Mar 1893 Married Jacob King Oct 22, 1829. With her husband, ran an Underground Railroad stop … More

Mary H. Avery Hine

1822-1907 18-year president of the YWCA, later honorary president. On death, she was the oldest member of Christ Church in … More

Griselda Ellis

1870- Sept 8, 1949 *NJ Death Index starts again in 1950, mentioned in Bernardsville News “Griselda Ellis of Newark” Aug … More

Rosamond Stewart Marrow

1903-1972 President of the Board of the Community Hospital (African American hospital, previously Kenney) in Newark. Also on the faculty … More

Lettie Mae Mulford

1883-1970 *sometimes listed as “Lettie Mulford” or “May Mulford” Teacher in the Newark Public School System for 42 years. A … More

Eva Mae Mulford

c. 1884-1886 to 1944 Daughter of Clara Irene Mulford. Lived in family house at 41 Chestnut. Early African American nurse … More

Anna Luella Seager

c.1887 -1957 Associate supervisor of the Newark Normal School and later Associate Professor Education at New Jersey State Teacher’s College. … More

Charlotte Kroll

1872-1958 Owner of Domestic Art Rooms 149 Washington St., teaching china painting. Buried by St. John’s Church Newark. Also imported … More

Marion Thompson Wright

1902-1962 Graduate of Barringer High. First African American woman in the US to earn a PHD in History. Rutgers annual … More

Mary Philbrook

1872-1958 First female attorney admitted to the bar in New Jersey. Practiced in Newark for many years. Bibliography “New Jersey … More

Elizabeth Swain(e) Ogden

1645-1706 In 1666, settlers from CT settled Newark. Elizaeth is said to be the first of the 1666 Newark landing … More

Renee Starks Steed

1914-1996 Born Renee Gregory. Fashion designer. Directed Renee’s School of French Designing and Modeling (591 High St) and ran New … More

Julia Baxter Bates

c. 1917-2003 The first African-American student admitted to Douglass College. Granddaughter of James Baxter, principal of the Colored School. Master’s … More

Marian C Manley

1892-1977 Ran Newark’s Business Library, a branch of the Public Library from 1926-1954. She retired in Oct 1954. Under her … More

Alma C Mitchill

c. 1893-1960 A Brooklyn native, Alma Mitchill came to Newark 2 years after graduation. She served as librarian at PSE&G … More

Dr. Vera Schectman

1890-1971 Russian immigrant. Graduate of the Women’s Medical College of UPenn. The first woman doctor at Beth Israel Hospital in … More

Mabel F Thomas

1887-1974 Early female dentist in Newark. Worked for Dr. C A Spahn and then practiced on her own. She began … More

Janet MacRorie

1887-1950 Assistant ad manager for PSE&G for 10 years. Pioneer in setting up standards and polices for commercial radio programs. … More

Carole Anderson Graves

1938- President of the Newark Teacher’s Union. Leader of the 1970 Teacher’s Strike. Later ran for General Assembly and served … More

Ruth Crumpton Dargan

1921-2010 Became a Newark policewoman in 1949. First Newark woman detective chosen for the Homicide Squad and sent to Quantico … More

Florence Peshine Eagleton

1870-1953 Born and died in Newark. Vice President of the NJ Suffrage Association, president of the Woman’s Political Union. Founder … More

Armita Harris Douglas

1874-1958 President, New Jersey Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Helped organize the NAACP and the Urban League in Newark and … More

Elizabeth Miele

1898-1975? Went to Barringer and Central High graduating Central in 1918. Newspaper reporter for the Newark Ledger, lawyer, publisher of … More

Majorie M Sweet

1892-1963 In Newark from at least 1915. The Sunday Call claimed she was the first licensed woman automobile driver in … More

Dorothy Palmer

c. 1893-1984 Operated the Dorothy Palmer School of dancing on Broadway in Newark for more than 50 years. Retired in … More

Laquetta C Nelson

1955- Advocate for gay and lesbian rights. Co-founder of the Newark Pride Alliance. Awarded the 2004 Community Service Award from … More

Janyce Jackson Jones

1951- Co-Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church located in Newark, NJ. Pastor of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church for which … More

Eleanor E Hamilton (Kingsley)

1882-1956 Eleanor E Hamilton was superintendent and director of Presbyterian Hospital in Newark from at least 1927-1947. She was name … More

Grace L Gregory

1919-2007 Owned Poro Beauty Shop on West Market in the 1940s-1950s. In 1983, founded “Guiding Light Inc.” (originally Caring and … More

Audrey Harvey West

Audrey Harvey Massiah Harris West 1927-2003 Born Audrey Harvey in Trenton, Audrey attended Howard University and came to Newark in … More

Aneatha Dames Todd

1918-1998 Active in the UMDNJ struggle, member of the Concerned Citizens of the College. Instrumental in organizing the Gladys Dickinson … More

Nellie Gray (Grashof)

c. 1843-1928 Singer, mezzo-soprano. Active in the choirs at Trinity Cathedral (quartet during Civil War) and B’Nai Jeshurun as well … More

Olivia Queene Brown

1882-? Beauty culturist since 1912, ran the Poro Beauty School on 9 Wallace Street which she opened in 1936 or … More

Anna E Whittington

c. 1875-1956 African American woman who ran her own real estate agency in Newark for more than 30 years from … More

Gloria Gaynor

1943- Born Gloria Fowles in Newark. Graduated South Side High in 1961. Singer. Biggest hit “I Will Survive”. Bibliography Barbara … More

Rose Kussy

1887-1955 President of the West Side Trust Company after the death of her husband. Graduate of Barringer (Newark) High and … More

Elsa Greenwood

1893-1957 Lifelong resident of Newark, who attended Robert Treat School. She ran the Elsa Greenwood School of Dance. When she … More

Jessie L. Creamer Cone

1880-1965 Feb 1898 Class of Newark High School. She attended the Women’s College of Baltimore and graduated in 1903. She … More

Julia Sabine

1905-1990 Head of the Art and Music Department at Newark Library. Worked at the library for over 40 years. Taught … More

Sandra West

1947-2019 1964 Weequahic graduate. Editor of the Black Organization for Students newsletter at Rutgers and first African American female editor … More

Abigail Malmgreen

1909-2009 1926 Graduate of Barringer High. Worked at Bamberger’s Department Store and then for the Newark Welfare Department. Lifelong political … More

Connie Woodruff

1921-1996 Journalist, labor organizer, educator. City editor of the New Jersey Herald News. Also wrote On the Scene in Jersey … More

Nancy Zak

1948- Community organizer for environmental justice and housing with Ironbound Community Corporation. Key figure in the HUD Tenants Coalition. Rutgers … More

Thelma Gillis

1916-2003 First woman and first non-law school grad assistant chief of the municipal court clerks of the City of Newark. … More