Category: African Americans
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Lettie Mae Mulford
1883-1970 *sometimes listed as “Lettie Mulford” or “May Mulford” Lettie Mae Mulford was a eacher in the Newark Public School System for 42 years. She was a daughter of the first African American Newark High School student Clara Mulford, and sister of nurse Eva Mulford. Lettie graduated Newark High School in 1901. In 1904, she…
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Eva Mae Mulford
c. 1884-1886 to 1944 Eva Mae Mulford was a daughter of Clara Irene Mulford and lived in family house at 41 Chestnut. Eva was an early African American nurse associated with the Newark Board of Health. She was appointed in late 1917 or early 1918, it was reported in the Jan 1918 The Crisis that…
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(Clara) Irene Pataquam Mulford
c.1854- 1945 In 1872, Clara Pataquam was the first African American pupil to attend the Newark High School. Previously African American students attended the Colored School. Clara had to sit alone in the last seat because she wasn’t allowed to sit next to a white pupil. However, she said she was treated with “consideration” and…
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Renee Starks Steed
1914-1996 Renee Starks Steed was a fashion designer. She directed Renee’s School of French Designing and Modeling (591 High St) and ran New York Hat Shoppe 392 Springfield Ave. Renee founded Renee Stark Enterprises and Renee’s Rental Services. She also owned Renee’s Acreage Recreational Area in Tuckahoe, NJ. Renee founded the New Jersey Community Council…
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Julia Baxter Bates
c. 1917-2003 Julia Bates was the first African American student at Douglass College, followed by a career of teaching and research. A coworker said, “She was truly a pioneer and an unsung heroine.” Julia Baxter Bates was the first African-American student admitted to Douglass College. Douglass admitted her without realizing her race, but accepted her…
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Carole Anderson Graves
1938- Carol Graves was President of the Newark Teacher’s Union and leader of the 1970/1971 Teachers’ Strikes. She was sentenced to 6 months in jail for her refusal to end the strike. She later ran for General Assembly and served as Essex County Register. Born Carole Anderson, Carole graduated Arts High in 1955. Carole was…
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Ruth Crumpton Dargan
1921-2010 Ruth Dargan became a Newark policewoman in 1949, in the second class of women. She was the first Newark woman detective, with her partner. Ruth was chosen for the Homicide Squad and sent to Quantico for advanced criminal investigation. She was the only woman chosen to initiate the Sex Crimes Unit during her tenure.…
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Armita Harris Douglas
1874-1958 Armita Douglas was active in the suffrage movement and a civic leader in Newark, advocating for Black women to become more politically active. She said in 1923, ” “the best mother is not the mother who stays at home all the time and gets a flower once a year…there are girls outside our own home…