Category: Born or raised in Newark (high school or before)
-
Mariana Higbie Barker
1880- April 24, 1967 President of the Board of Babies Hospital, Mariana was a founder or very early member of the Babies Hospital Guild, and quickly became President. In that capacity she helped plan children’s diets, and with purchasing, hiring and firing for the hospital. She also advocated for clean milk laws. She received a…
-
Myrtle C. Williams
1900- 1957 Myrtle C Williams grew up in Newark on Chestnut St. She was the first “colored girl” to finish a 4 year commercial course in 1919 when she graduated East Side High and played a piano solo at the graduation. Myrtle entered Columbia University. In 1921 she was appointed stenographer for the Mayor’s Department.…
-
Clara Zahn
1870-1953 Clara Zahn was the first woman principal of a co-ed grammar school. There were woman as primary school principals from 1855, the earliest year for which we have a report, but grammar schools were for older children. Grammar schools had a “male” and “female” department and there were women principals of the female department…
-
Alice Condit Kirkpatrick
11 Dec 1875 – 15 Jan 1951 Alice Kirkpatrick was the first woman in Newark to head a city governing board. She was elected in 1917 as President of the Recreation Commission, after being appointed for the start of 1916 by Mayor Raymond. Alice was head of the New Jersey Vacation Committee organized in 1914:…
-
Laura Mayo Wilson
1871-1963 Laura Mayo Wilson was the first woman to graduate the New Jersey Law School, along with Lulu Kinsgsland Garrabrant (who was never admitted to the bar). New Jersey Law School became Rutgers Law School, in Newark in 1910 and was admitted to the bar as an attorney. Born in Newark, to William Wilson and…
-
Eleta Caldwell
1945-2017 Eleta Caldwell was principal at Arts High School 1991-2003, previously Chair of Art and teacher at the school. Eleta was an artist who co-founded in the 1980s the “Black Women in Visual Perspective” Group which included Gladys Grauer. She exhibited at City Without Walls, and other galleries across the state and nation including MoMA…
-
Gladyce Black Sherman
1908-1995 Gladyce Black Sherman was an artist and educator. She was a member of the faculty of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts for over 20 years, also graduated from the school. Her work was exhibited at the Newark Museum, Montclair Art Museum, Art Center of the Oranges, and in NYC. Charter member,…
-
Elizabeth Albright Spurr
1870-1934 Elizabeth Albright Spurr was a Newark native and lifelong resident. She lived on Mt. Prospect Avenue and in childhood on Park St. In 1919 became Vice President of the family-owned brush manufacturer Rubberset Company (Rubber & Celluloid Products Co.), and became President in 1929 when her brother resigned. She was President for the remainder…