Category: African Americans
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Violet Johnson
1870-1939 Civic leader and suffragist in Summit. Active in the New Jersey Federation of Colored Womens Clubs and the New Jersey Women Suffrage Association. Violet Johnson’s life has been expertly chronicled in Betty…
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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 jazz, blues and religious singer. In Newark, she sang for local jazz clubs…
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Florence Randolph
1866-1951 Suffragist, ordained minister and clubwomen. Organizer of the NJ Federation of Colored Womens Clubs. Randolph’s life has been covered widely in several publications including the sources below. In Newark, Randolph was pastor…
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Martha Belle Williams
1924-1969 With M. Bernadine Johnson Marshall, first African American woman admitted to the New Jersey Bar. From Montclair but attended Essex Junior College and New Jersey Law School in Newark. Served her clerkship at…
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Bertell Collins Wright
1908-1993 President of the Essex County Tuberculosis League, based in Newark at 42 Park Place, sometimes called “Director of Negro Health Work” or “Executive Secretary”. Worked there from 1938-1958. Lived at 69 Somerset…
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Myrtle C. Williams
1900- 15 Jun 1965 (?) Grew up in Newark on Chestnut St. First “colored girl” to finish a 4 year commercial course in 1919 when she graduated East Side High. Played a piano…
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Stella Windsor Wright
1887-1932 From North Carolina. Social worker who helped establish the Friendly Neighborhood House with Gladys Churchman and Louise Shugard. Stella Wright Homes was named after her. She also helped to establish a Girls…
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Clara Dasher
1930-1995 President of the Essex County College Board of Trustees, longtime active member of the Newark Teacher’s Union. Teacher from 1959-1973. President of the NJ A Philip Randolph Institute. Served on the Governor’s…