1905-1958
One of the early Black teachers in Newark. In 1938 the Herald News called her “one of Newark’s popular school teachers”, “charming” and a “member of one of New Jersey’s outstanding families”. She taught at Abington Ave School, in 1st grade, for her whole career.
Born in Newark and sister of Irene E Morris.
Active member of the Beaux Arts club including participating in it’s theater productions, her acting was called “professional” by the New York Age. She was also a member of St. Philips Church, Phi Delta Kappa, and ‘I Double U’ Bridge and active in the YMCA and NAACP. She was organist at Pilgrim Baptist Church.
In 1923 she was a founder of The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. while at Jersey City Normal School. She was a minor so her mother Estelle signed the founding document.
She was called “Mulatto” on the 1910-1920 census, but “Negro” on the 1930 census.
She married in 1938 and placed 3rd in the Mrs. Crispus Attucks Contest in 1943. She graduated Barringer High, the Newark Normal School and Newark Teacher’s College (1940), with a Masters from Seton Hall (Obit). She had taken special courses at NYU and Columbia (New York Age, 1938).
Bibliography
Kukla, Barbara Defying the Odds.
New York Age Newark, NJ columns May 31, 1930
“Beaux Arts Club in Newark Gives Plays” New York Age May 31, 1930
Census records
https://www.nspdk.org/history
“Five of Six Winners in Attucks Contest” New Jersey Herald News Dec 4, 1943
“School Teacher to Marry” New Jersey Herald News Jun 11, 1938
“Miss Morris Feted at Buffet Supper/Honor Miss Morris at Nuptial Shower” New Jersey Herald News Dec 10, 1938
“Mrs. Mildred Morris Williams” Star Ledger Apr 25, 1958
“Mrs. D Williams of Orange Dies” Newark News Apr 25, 1958