1867-1939
Ruth Battles was an early Black graduate of Newark High School, in 1891. In 1894 and 1895 she is listed as running a Select School in Newark at 187 Commerce.
Ruth married Rev. Charles Dickerson in 1895 but in 1901 sued him for desertion. He had to pay her $4 a week (later revised to $3 a week). The article said she was taking in lodgers for income.
Later, Ruth ran an employment bureau at her home at 400 Halsey Street. An ad on Dec 14, 1903 in the Newark News called it “Mrs. Dickerson’s Employment Bureau”. She also posted in ads in the New York Age advertising “The Dickerson House” for “first class accommodations”, “employment office attached”.
The 1908 city directory stated Ruth had moved to New York. In 1908 she posted a similar ad in the New York Age with a new location at 262 West 47th for an employment office and 329 West 59th as residence, advertising, “Help of all nationalities”, “The Reliable Employment Office”. She opened a new location at 305 West 41st called “Elberon House” in 1909.
Ruth died in New York City in 1939. Her business on her death certificate was listed as “renting furnished rooms”.
Bibliography
“Many Girl Graduates” Newark News July 1, 1891
1894, 1895, 1906, 1908 City Directory (Newark), 1910 New York
“Dickerson Appeal Case Denied” Newark News July 27, 1901
New York Age Oct 4, 1906; Dec 10, 1908; Dec 23, 1909
Census records
Death Certificate D-M-1939-0012475 https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/6813143
Anderson, John Negro Education in the Public Schools of Newark