Category: Activists and Community Leaders
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Pryno B Hillman
c. 1916-1964 Pryno B. Hillman (c. 1916-1963) founded the Mary Bethune Social Club, was an organizing and creative director of arts at Central Avenue Community Center, was first president of the Newark branch…
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Sarah Kussy
1870-1956 Sarah Kussy was a prolific Jewish leader. She helped found many Jewish orgs. in Newark and nationally. In Newark, she founded the Ladie’s Patriotic Relief Society in Newark and section of the…
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Amelia (Berndt) Moorfield
1876-1950 Amelia (Berndt) Moorfield (1876-1950), was a suffragette from Newark, with the Women’s Political Union. Her parents were German immigrants. Born in Kentucky, she moved to Newark after marrying Frank Moorfield at age…
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Maria DeCastro Blake
1911-2011 Maria DeCastro Blake (1911-2011) was a dean of admissions at Rutgers and recruited hundreds of Hispanic students. She was key to ASPIRA, the Puerto Rican Congress, the Black & Puerto Rican Coalition…
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Elvira Rodrigues
1918-1985 Elvira Rodrigues (left) co-owned an oil firm. She was a community leader in the Ironbound, leader in many Portuguese organizations, member of the East Side High board and delegate to the Democratic…
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Vera Brantley McMillon
1909-1987 Vera McMillon worked for the Public Welfare Department for 37 years retiring as a Supervisor, co-founded Tri City People’s Organization for Progress and a branch of the National Council for Negro Women.…
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Gladys St. John Churchman
1902-1974 Gladys Churchman ran the Friendly Neighborhood House as Executive Director from 1945-1967. She was also part of the Churchman Funeral Home family. She was also involved in many other community efforts such…
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Louise Epperson
1908-2002 Louise Epperson was key in the protests against UMDNJ in the 1960s & helped negotiate the Medical School Agreements. She was also the first African American appointed to the Board of Health…