Category: African Americans
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(Clara) Irene Pataquam Mulford
c.1854- 1945 In 1872, first African American pupil to attend the Newark High School. Previously African American students attended the Colored School. She had to sit alone in the last seat because she…
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Renee Starks Steed
1914-1996 Born Renee Gregory. Fashion designer. Directed Renee’s School of French Designing and Modeling (591 High St) and ran New York Hat Shoppe 392 Springfield Ave. Founded Renee Stark Enterprises and Renee’s Rental…
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Julia Baxter Bates
c. 1917-2003 The first African-American student admitted to Douglass College. Granddaughter of James Baxter, principal of the Colored School. Master’s degree from Columbia University. Was denied the right to teach in New Jersey’s…
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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 as Essex County Register. 1955 Arts Yearbook Bibliography G-25, Graves Carole, Newark News…
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Ruth Crumpton Dargan
1921-2010 Became a Newark policewoman in 1949. First Newark woman detective chosen for the Homicide Squad and sent to Quantico for advanced criminal investigation. She was the only woman chosen to initiate the…
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Armita Harris Douglas
1874-1958 President, New Jersey Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Helped organize the NAACP and the Urban League in Newark and was a charter member of the city’s Phyllis Wheatley Literary Club. Active in…
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Laquetta C Nelson
1955- Advocate for gay and lesbian rights. Co-founder of the Newark Pride Alliance. Awarded the 2004 Community Service Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Founder of the NJ Stonewall Democrats.…
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Janyce Jackson Jones
1951- Co-Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church located in Newark, NJ. Pastor of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church for which she is a founding member when it was established in 1995. Executive Director…