1903-1972
Bob Queen called Rosamond (Rosamund) Stewart Marrow, “one of NJ’s most outstanding personalities over the past half century.”
Rosamond founded Simplex Beauty School, which was at 126-128 West Kinney Street. She was also a founder of the Cosmetologists Guild.
She was president of the Board of the Community Hospital (African American hospital, previously Kenney) in Newark, where she helped fundraise and keep the hospital running.
Rosamond was also on the faculty of Essex County Vocational School teaching beauty culture, social science, and gymnastics. For her teaching work, she received tributes from Effa Manley, among others.
Rosamond was involved in politics in the 1930s through 1950s including being Republican Vice Chairman in the Central Ward, an alternate Republic delegate to the 1960 National Convention, and working on the campaign of Senate candidate Robert Kean. She was an officer of the Mrs. Samuel E. Cooper Civic League and co-chairman of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Essex Civil Council. She was also named a member of Eisenhower’s 1958 Committee on Government Contracts.
Rosamond was also heavily involved in the community. She was on the Public Relations Committee for the Master Plan in 1945. She was chair of the Ebony Fashion Fair. She was heavily involved with the NJ Council of Negro Women. She lived at 158 Littleton Ave and visitors to charity galas at the home included Duke Ellington.
Rosamund was cited on the Afro’s 1940 North Jersey Honor Roll. In 1962, there was a tribute to her work at the Terrace Ballroom.
Rosamond was born Rosamond Gordon and raised in Orange.
Bibliography
After Hours, Dec 15, 1949, Tiny Prince Collection, Newark Library (photo)
“Mrs. R. S. Marrow Honored at Dinner” Star Ledger Dec 13, 1948
“Town Talk” Dec 22, 1945
“Cooper League Installs Oct 22” Star Ledger Oct 13, 1957
“Fashion Fair to Benefit Youth Clubs” Star Ledger Sept 26, 1983
“GOP Picks Lawyer to Face Addonizio” Star Ledger Feb 24, 1960
“A Guiliano to Help Kean” Star Ledger Oct 11, 1958
“Auxiliary to Hold Cocktail Party” Star Ledger Apr 11, 1951
“Hospital Plans $50,000 Drive for Expansion” Star Ledger Feb 18, 1951
“Fashion Fair Will Benefit Boys Club” Star Ledger Sept 27, 1959
“Marrow, Rosamond S” Star Ledger Feb 1, 1972
North 13th Street Yearbook 1957
“Negro Women’s County Council Honors Leaders” The Record May 28, 1957
“Schaefer Award” New York Age Jun 29, 1957
Digital collections Newark Library: 1, 2
Moore, Ethel Mae “Jaunting in Jersey” Afro American Nov 30, 1948
Moore, Ethel Mae “Jaunting in Jersey” Afro American Apr 5, 1947
Taylor, Kitty V., “Others to Be Honored” Afro American May 13, 1972
Queen, Bob, “Mrs. Rosamond Marrow, beauty culturalist, dies at 69” NJ Afro American Feb 5, 1972: https://newarkwomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/AfroMarrow.pdf