Category: African Americans
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Sarah Elizabeth Collins Houston
1896-1986 Grandmother of Whitney Houston. Born in California in 1896 but lived in Newark on Beach St by the time she was 14. Her father was minister at St. James AME Church. She…
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Newark Policewomen Class of 1949
Photo from Star Ledger shows women in training, May 1949. Though police matrons existed and 12 policewomen were listed as acting as of 1947 including Claire Gonzales, Josephone B Renz, and Mary Knapp,…
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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 teacher”. She graduated the Normal School in 1898. Assistant in the Colored School…
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Emily B Thomas
1870-1924 Assistant teacher to James Baxter at the Colored School from at least 1888. Spent most of her teaching career at Commerce Street School. Member of the Phyllis Wheatly Society. In 1900, lived…
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Alma Beatty
1940-2015 Vice President of Community Affairs at Beth Israel. Beth Israel calls her “a trailblazer in our community”, She was the founder and coordinator of Beth Israel’s annual health and wellness fair. It…
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Irene E Morris
1900-1953 Irene Morris worked for the Board of Health for over 25 years. She graduated from Mercy Hospital in Philadelphia with the class of 1922. Listed as a nurse in city directories from…
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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 Clubs of which she was Recording Secretary and Financial Secretary. Active in the…
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Hamilton Family
Laura Bland Hamilton 1853-1952 Born into slavery in VA. Came to Newark after the Civil War with her sister and married Frederick Hamilton. Founder of Bethany Baptist Church. Organized a factory making baby…