Category: Born or raised in Newark (high school or before)

Modina Boyd Davis Watson

1927-1994 Hairdresser, makeup artists, assistant, secretary, stylist and “gal Friday” for Sarah Vaughan who traveled the world with Vaughan from … More

Evelyn Silverstein Simpson

1931-2021 Newark space planner, interior designer, teacher and potter. Graduate of Weequahic High School and Newark School of Fine and … More

Bessie Lanier Smith

1924-1966 Bessie Lanier was born in Virginia but graduated Arts High in 1942 with a major in music. She was … More

Susan Amelia Barnet

1814-1897 Born in Mendham but raised in Newark. Member of the first class of the New York Women’s Medical College, … More

Rose A Leonardis

1916-2012 Lifelong Ironbound resident. Proprietor of the Rose A. Leonardis Funeral Home after the death of her father in 1953. … More

Mildred Roberts Helms

1907–2002 Community activist, encouraged the building of affordable housing in Clinton Hill. In 1972, she helped found the Clinton Hill … More

Asimina Zois

1909-1987 Arrived in Newark at age 7 from Greece. She began sending care packages back to her native village in … More

Rose Slavitt

1895-1969 Born in Newark, but grew up in New York for some years (1910). Back in Newark by 1915. First … More

J. Isabelle Sims

c. 1873-1952 Prolific Newark social worker and lifelong Newarker. Directed Fresh Air Fund Camps for 32 years and would travel … More

Dr. Sarah D. Smalley

1875-1952 A native of Newark who practiced in Newark from 1901-1952. She was active in the Newark Equal Suffrage League … More

Aileen Fong Shane

1926-2017 Born and raised in Newark’s Chinatown Aileen Fong Shane was an early woman engineer, graduating from Newark College of … More

Helen Pollard Zimmer

1910-1980 Corporate secretary (secretary/treasurer) of Fidelity Union Bank from 1964-1975, previously assistant secretary 1961-1964 and with Fidelity from 1956. First … More

Marion Roberson Kidd

1928-2012 Born in Newark. Worked 15 years with the North Jersey Community Union later named Newark Community Health Center, as … More

Dorothy Gould

1922 – 2015 Early Black teacher, hired in 1943 for $144 a month at Cleveland Junior High as a “permanent … More

Katherine Bell Banks

1912-2008 Photo from Vailsburg yearbook 1973. Born in Tennessee, the Banks family shared a home with the WEB Dubois family … More

Dr. Anna M. Robinson Cross

1856-1925 Physician who traveled widely in the West and was very prominent in Crawford, Nebraska where she was a government … More

Curvin Family

The sisters of historian Robert Curvin. There were six daughters. They were born in Newark, but they grew up in … More

Duryee Family

(Photo from FindAGrave, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery) All heavily involved in missionary work – specifically the Women’s Board of Foreign Missions … More

Elizabeth Hardin Goss

1895-1953 Graduated Miss Townsend’s School in Newark and then went to Vassar where she broke the world record in shot … More

Dr. Edith Gann

1905-1998 Graduate of Miller Street School, South Side High and the Normal School. Received a Phd from psychology from Columbia. … More

Jessie Yearance Cann

1882-1964 First woman to gain a Phd in Chemistry at Columbia. She was born in Newark to Frank (Newark alderman) … More

Maude E Emery

1888-1973 Born in Boston, came to Newark before 1905. Graduated Barnard in 1910. Taught Latin and History at South Side … More

Bertha Rosenthal

1891-1957 Early College of Pharmacy graduate in 1909, “one of the youngest graduates of the college”. Only one other woman … More

Olive A Mathews Summers

1876-1911 Born and raised in Newark. Lived at 192 Charlton St. New York Age called a “much beloved public school … More

Alma Beatty

1940-2015 Vice President of Community Affairs at Beth Israel. Beth Israel calls her “a trailblazer in our community”, She was … More

Sister Carol Johnston

1944-2013 Sister Carol was born and raised in Newark and attended St. Vincent’s Academy. She was Director of the Women … More

Irene E Morris

1900-1953 Born in Newark. Listed as a nurse in city directories from 1923. Appointed as a visiting nurse for the … More

Mildred Miller Free

1893-1939 Prominent in church and women’s circles. Active in St. Philips Church and the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s … More

Hamilton Family

Laura Bland Hamilton 1853-1952 Born into slavery in VA. Came to Newark after the Civil War with her sister and … More

Rose Baldasare Maker

1913-1997 1939 Women’s Singles NJ Tennis Champion and the Newark Open Champion 4 years in succession. Lived at 258 Van … More

Shirley Northern Green

c. 1935-1983 Appointed director of the Division of Public Welfare in 1978 by Ken Gibson. Previously served as Rent Control … More

Marcia King Stillwell

c. 1846-1929 Daughter of Mary Thompson King. Sister of Harriet and Ellen King. Marcia King was First Assistant to James … More

Ellen C. King

c. 1839-1936 Daughter of Mary Thompson King and sister of Harriet King Brown. Born at 70 Warren Street and lived … More

Harriet A. King Brown

c.1850-1912 Thanks to Noelle Lorraine Williams for sharing this name and New York Age obituary. The New York Age called … More

Carrie Epps Powell

c. 1905-1987 Born in Newark, attended East Side High, Newark State University and graduated Rutgers in 1931. Worked as a … More

Gladys Berry Francis

c. 1911-1993 Born in Newark.* Director of Elementary Education from 1967-1978. Previously taught at Charlton Street School and South 8th … More

Grace Eubanks Malone

c. 1908-1994 First black welfare director in New Jersey. Worked as a social worker for the city starting in 1931, … More

Rose Danzis Parsonnett

c. 1900-2003 Duaghter of Max Danzis, a founder of Beth Israel Hospital and Jennie Danzis. Attended South Side High School … More

Marie Antoinette Quinby

1848-1909 Born at Park Place, Newark, died in Newark. Attended school at St. Mary’s in Burlington, NJ. Lee wrote, “Beautiful … More

Kate Louise Roberts

1861-1941 Editor of Hoyt’s New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations. She got the job through JK Hoyt editor of the Newark … More

Ramona Santiago

c. 1952- Photo from Newark Library. Ramona Santiago was appointed deputy mayor in 1994. Her grandfather came from Spain to … More

Connie Francis

1937 (some sources say 1938)- Pop singer and chart topping vocalist. Connie was born Concetta Franconero in the Ironbound section … More

Miss Rhapsody Viola Wells

1902-1984 Photo from Barbara J Kukla Papers Born in Newark, Viola Wells, known as Miss Rhapsody was an internationally acclaimed … More

Miriam Ogden Ball

1890-1968 From an old Newark family, born in Newark daughter of Mary Depue Ogden. Attended Wellesley College and worked briefly … More

Mary Depue Ogden

1867-1960 Member of a prominent New Jersey family. Wrote the Memorial Cyclopedia of New Jersey and collaborated with her husband … More

Esther Newman

c. 1883 – 1901 First woman graduate of the NJ College of Pharmacy along with Emma Egge. Graduated in April … More

Emma Egge Oschwald

c. 1883-1960 Born in Newark, first woman to graduate the NJ College of Pharmacy in Newark, along with Esther Newman … More

Margaret Douglas Haines

1884-1966 Lifelong resident of Newark. Member of the General Assembly 1949-1953. Taught at Garfield and Avon Ave Schools. Canteen worker … More

Mariana Higbie Barker

1880- April 24, 1967 Born in Newark, graduate of Smith College 1901. President of the Board of Babies Hospital. She … More

Myrtle C. Williams

1900- 15 Jun 1965 (?) Grew up in Newark on Chestnut St. First “colored girl” to finish a 4 year … More

Clara Zahn

1870-1953 Born in Newark, attended Newark Public Schools and Newark Normal School. First woman principal of a grammar school. Appointed … 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

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

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

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

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

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

Griselda Ellis

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

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

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

Elizabeth Miele

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kitty (Kearney) V. Taylor

1926-2008 Attended Charlton Street School and South Side High. Senior citizen activist and radio host on WNJR with “The Kitty … More

Pearl Beatty

1936-2019 Active in the Urban League, NACCP, organizing for JFK and the March on Washington. Attended Morton St. School and … More

Estrella Alonso Martinez

1924-1998 Lifelong Newark resident, daughter of Spanish immigrants. With her husband Antonio, founded what they claim was the first Spanish … More

Harriet Stratemeyer Adams

1892-1982 Wrote over 200 books over her literary career, including the plot outlines for many Nancy Drew books. Took over … More

Loraine White

c. 1947 In 1980, said to be the first Black woman to become a high school football coach in the … More

Elizabeth Burke Del Tufo

1933- Head of the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee. Newark Historian. Known for her tours of Newark. In 1980, first … More

Marie Foster Whigham

1923-2006 Helped her husband Charles Whigham to found Citi National Bank and Whigham Funeral Home. Mayor Sharpe James called her … More

Grace Murphy

1882-1966 Founded Murphy Funeral Home on Roseville Avenue and operated it until her death. Her obituary listed her as one … More

Jennie Caputo

1918-1996 Gymnast who competed in the 1936 Olympics. Married name Pascuzzi. Entered into the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame 1992. … More

Sally Carroll

1922-2019 One of the first Black policewomen along with Rhoda Daniels and Eleanor M. Stokes . Actively involved with the … More

Hannah (Burnet) Kinney

1761-1862 Helped found the Newark Female Charitable Society in 1803 and served as president. “A star in the social world … More

Emma Ward Edwards

1845-1896 Emma Ward Edwards was one of the first woman doctors in NJ. Born in Newark, she graduated valedictorian of … More

Amina Baraka

1942- Amina Baraka is an American poet, actress, author, community organizer, singer, dancer, and activist. She graduated from Arts High … More

Clara L Scudder

1874-1930 Clara L Scudder was very accomplished on the piano and organ. She learned from her father David Scudder who … More

Augusta Parsonnet

1870-1949 President, Women’s Political Union of New Jersey; President, League of Women Voters of Newark. Lived in Weequahic and Lincoln … More

Mildred Preen

1919-1979 Mildred Preen, graduate of West Side High in Newark was the first woman to graduate in Electrical Engineering at … More

Adelaide Wilson

1901 or 1902 – ? Adelaide Wilson was raised in Newark and worked as a reporter. In 1922 she hiked … More

GiGi Foushee

1947-1997 GiGi Foushee was a Newark police officer, county detective, head Newark’s ABC department, deputy mayor & first African-American woman … More

Zelma Mitchell Collins

1932- Zelma Collins was the first black teacher at South 17th Street School in 1952 and rose to principal! Later, … More

Larrie West Stalks

1925-2015 Larrie Stalks was Essex County Register from 1974-1994. Stalks became  Executive Secretary of the Newark Planning Board in 1962. … More

Marion Bolden

1946- Marion Bolden was superintendent of the Newark Public Schools from 1999-2008. She was born in Newark and is a … More

Bernice Cross

c. 1918-2011 Bernice Cross worked at the Star Ledger all her life (from 1939). She coordinated several sections of the … More

Grace Baxter Fenderson

1882-1962 Grace Baxter Fenderson (1882-1962) was one of the first African American teachers in the Newark Public Schools and taught … More

Etta Fallon

1880-1960 Etta Fallon was the first women policewoman with Margaret Dugan and Justina Eller in 1918 and they were the … More

Pryno B Hillman

c. 1916-1964 Pryno B. Hillman (c. 1916-1963) founded the Mary Bethune Social Club, was an organizing and creative director of … More

Sarah Kussy

1870-1956 Sarah Kussy was a prolific Jewish leader. She helped found many Jewish orgs. in Newark and nationally. In Newark, … More

Marie Anderson Bagby

1925-2003 Marie Bagby (1925-2003) was a teacher starting in 1944, and eventually principal at Barringer, West Side and University High … More

Delores Alexander

1931-2008 Lesbian feminist writer and reporter Delores Alexander (1931-2008), born in Newark and worked for the Newark News. Later she … More

Golden Johnson

1903-1984 Golden Johnson was the first black woman to serve as a Newark municipal court judge. She grew up in … More

Vera Brantley McMillon

1909-1987 Vera McMillon worked for the Public Welfare Department for 37 years retiring as a Supervisor, co-founded Tri City People’s … More

Gladys Churchman

1902-1974 Gladys Churchman ran the Friendly Neighborhood House, as well as being part of the Churchman Funeral Home. She was … More

Sophie L Cooper

1912-1971 Sophie L. Cooper was Newark’s first elected councilwoman, in the South Ward from 1957-1962. Photo from Newark Public Library. … More

Beatrice Winser

1869-1947 Beatrice Winser was director of the Newark library and museum from 1929-1942 (only female library director until Wilma Grey!). … More

Camille Sabie

1902-1998 Camille Sabie won two gold medals in the 1922 World Games and later became a physical education teacher. Branford … More

E. Alma Williams Flagg

1918-2018 Alma Flagg was the first African American principal of an integrated school in Newark in 1964, in 1967 she … More

Louise Shugard

1870-1951 Louise Shugard was known as “the most prominent woman in Newark”. She worked with the Red Cross, Colored Free … More

Jennie Precker

1892-1981 Jennie Precker founded the nation’s first woman’s bank the Susan B. Anthony Building & Loan Association. It was the … More

Dr. Marie Louise Lefort

1874-1951 Newark native Dr Marie Lefort was the first woman appointed district physician for Newark from 1898-1902, significantly improving conditions … More

Jennie Levell Lemon

1913-1982 Married to Tom Lemon in Newark in 1950. Listed as a waitress in 1930, and a WPA Investigator on … More

Emily Miles

1910-1999 Fashion designer. Known for her hats and for frequent fashion shows in Newark. Image from: Newark Library. Bibliograpjy  “History … More

H. Blanche Harris

1878-1956 (Thanks to George Robb who did much research on Harris). Blanche Harris was active in the suffrage movement in … More

Elsa Rehmann

1886-1946 Sister of Antoinette Perrett. Landscape architect. 492 Mt. Prospect Ave. Bibliography Cultural Landscape Foundation Census documents

Antoinette Rehmann Perrett

1880-1952 Garden photographer and magazine writer. Wrote for national publications. Sister of Elsa Rehmann. 492 Mt. Prospect Ave. Graduated Newark … More

Josephine Lawrence

1889-1978 Newark Sunday Call Children’s and Household Editor. Newark News Women’s Page Editor and Weekly Columnist. Wrote over 100 children’s … More

Brenda Estelle Ray Moryck

1894-1949 Black writer and social activist born in Newark. Worked with Newark Bureau of Charities. She published short stories, essays, … More

Florence Haines

1869-1955 Secretary of the New Jersey Women’s Political Union Charter Member of the Newark League of Women Voters New Jersey … More

Sarah Vaughan

1924-1990 Sarah Vaughan described as having “one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century.” Vaughan grew up in … More