1876-1950
Amelia (Berndt) Moorfield (1876-1950), was a suffragette from Newark, with the Women’s Political Union. She was financial secretary of the WPU, recruited by Mina Van Winkle. In this role, she raised money for the suffrage cause, helping to achieve the passage of the 19th Amendment.
Amelia’s parents were German immigrants. Born in Kentucky, she moved to Newark after marrying Frank Moorfield at age 20, living on Columbia Street (likely 35 Columbia) from 1900, until her death. Her husband died in 1923 leaving her wealth with which to pursue various causes.
Later she became an advocate for the Peace movement, joining the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, where she became the Chair, and supporting the League of Nations. She joined the American League Against War and Fascism and was an outspoken critic of the Nazis, organizing a picket of the Italian consulate and German stores in Newark.
In 1938 she ran unsuccessfully for Freeholder for the Fusion Party.
Amelia was involved in many other civic and religious groups. She served as the President of the Women’s Press Club. She was also Vice President of the Newark branch of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Newark and represented the club in DC in 1931. Other positions included: chairman of the East Side Sewing Circle, Guild of St. Barnabas Hospital; former director of the Girl’s Friendly Society of Christ Episcopal Church; a board member of the Visiting Nurses Association; a board member of the Silver Lake Community House; Vice President of the Altar Guild of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark; a member of the Contemporary Club; former chairman of the Women’s Committee of the NJ Division of the American Citizens League; board member of the Urban League and board member of the Consumer’s League.
Bibliography
“Mrs. Moorfield Services Set” Newark News Feb 26, 1950
“Mrs. Amelia B Moorfield” Star Ledger Feb 26, 1950
Amelia Moorfield Suffragist Papers (NJHS)
#35-31 Columbia St, Samuel Berg Collection, Newark Library, 1960s
International League of Peace and Freedom Papers, Essex Branch (NJHS)
Women’s Political Union of Newark records (Rutgers)
Grover, Warren Nazis in Newark
“Mrs. Amelia Moorfield,” New York Times, February 27, 1950.
Burstyn, Joan N. ed., Past and Promise: Lives of New Jersey Women, (Syracuse University Press, 1997), pgs. 360-61. https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0815604181
Sterling, Guy, The Famous, the Familiar and the Forgotten: 350 Notable Newarkers, (GS Newark, 2014), pp. 231-32. https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1499079915