Category: Born or raised in Newark (high school or before)
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Elsie Reed Eatman
1930-2014 Elsie Reed Eatman was a community activist, involved in various protests and strikes, especially for housing. Much of Elsie’s work focused around Housing and Pennington Court. She was the first president of the Pennington Court Tenants Association and vice president of the Newark Tenants Council. She co-wrote a history of Pennington Court with Walter…
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Dr. Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant
1935-2018 Dr. Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant was an advice columnist at Essence Magazine for over 25 years, writing the “Sexual Health” column. Essence called her “a legend in sexual health”. She wrote The best kind of loving : a black woman’s guide to finding intimacy Besides her writing, Gwendolyn taught at public schools in East Orange,…
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Modina Boyd Watson
1926-1994 (Davis, Pulley) Modina Boyd was hairdresser, makeup artists, assistant, secretary, stylist and “gal Friday” for Sarah Vaughan who traveled the world with Vaughan from 1950-1960. Modina met Vaughan at Arts High where they became close friends. Later, she was attending Howard but left to work with Vaughan. Vaughan said, “with my secretary, Modina Davis,…
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Bernice Schneiderman Edelcreek
1927-2015 Bernice Edelcreek was a lifelong Newark teacher who said “Newark was the only place I ever really wanted to teach.” Bernice was a physical education teacher and was named Newark’s Teacher of the Year in 1994. She said, “I am particular concerned…with youngsters who are having difficulty accomplishing the skills which are required in…
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Evelyn Silverstein Simpson
1931-2021 Newark space planner, interior designer, teacher and potter. Graduate of Weequahic High School and Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art. Lived on Renner Ave during highschool. She tudied ceramics at the Newark Museum, among other places, and studied at Edison State College, Pratt Institute and Parsons with concentrations in architecture, planning, and design.…
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Bessie Lanier Smith
1924-1966 Bessie Lanier Smith was prominent in the Clinton Hill anti-poverty activities with United Community Corporation and as a community leader in Clinton Hill. She was first president of the area UCC leader board for Clinton Hill (Area Board 3) also known as People’s Action Group. Before UCC came to Newark, Bessie and her husband…
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Everane (Eva) Crump Harris
1913-2006 Eva Harris was born in Pleasantdale, NJ but lived in Newark by 1930 and in the Ironbound at 101 Hawkins St by 1950, after her first husband died. She lived in the Ironbound for the rest of her life. Eva Harris was a teacher’s aide at Hawkins Street School for many years. She was…
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Susan Amelia Barnett
1814-1897 Susan was a member of the first class of the New York Women’s Medical College, which graduated 1865. She practiced as a physician until four years before her death. She practiced for several years in Newark (city directories through 1870) and then in New York. “It was because of her desire to help the…