Category: African Americans
-
Doris Thompson Dorsey
1911-1985 Doris Dorsey was the first Black woman supervisor in the Newark Post Office in 1966. She was “the only woman in an 18 member section”. She had been a Postal employee since…
-
Jacqueline “Jackie” Rendleman Jones
c. 1951-2021 Jackie was the first woman firefighter at the Newark Fire Department in 1981, along with Ethel Goldsberry who was later removed. In 1982, she was the only woman firefighter of over…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…