Category: African Americans
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Eugenia “Jeanne/Jean” (Byrd) Dawkins
c. 1926-1978 Owned the Key Club, one of Newark’s most famous jazz clubs, with her husband. She ran the club after her husband died In 1976 she was named Newark’s Woman of the…
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Sally Carroll
1922-2019 One of the first Black policewomen along with Rhoda Daniels and Eleanor M. Stokes . Actively involved with the Newark branch of the NAACP for 40+ years, served as President. Served on…
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Hannah Mandeville
1811-1902 Born into slavery, one of the first members of the African American Plane St. Church and active in the church. Her obituary (see: Black Power 19th Century) said she was “well known…
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Amina Baraka
1942- Amina Baraka is an American poet, actress, author, community organizer, singer, dancer, and activist. She graduated from Arts High School. Bibliography “Amina Baraka – Queer Newark”. queer.newark.rutgers.edu. Barbara J Kukla Papers “Amina Baraka”.…
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Clara L Scudder
1874-1930 Clara L Scudder was very accomplished on the piano and organ. She learned from her father David Scudder who was a member of Craig’s Orchestra. She went to Scotland and Europe to…
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Alice Bunce
1893-1970 Alice E. Bunce was the first African American woman to graduate from the New Jersey College of Pharmacy in Newark. However, she lived in Asbury Park at the time of graduation in…
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Mary C. Woody
c. 1877-1966 Mary C. Woody became the first licensed female funeral director in NJ in Newark in 1913. She opened a funeral home that bears her name in Orange, which is open to…
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GiGi Foushee
1947-1997 GiGi Foushee was a Newark police officer, county detective, head Newark’s ABC department, deputy mayor & first African-American woman warden of Essex County Jail. “In a few months short of 50 yrs…