Category: African Americans
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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…
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Betty Lester
1945-2021 Worked in Public Defenders Office. In 1977 appointed a Municipal Court Judge at age 31. In 1985 appointed to the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey. First African American woman…
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Elitea Bulkley Allison
c. 1913 -2007 Received her graduate degree of Library Science in 1936, starting in Orangeburg South Carolina. Bachlor’s from Claflin College. Library Science Degree from Hampton Institute. One of the early African Americans…