Category: Business & Entrepreneur
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Sara Jane Ash
1886-1973 Sarah Jane Ash was one of only two woman engineers at NJ Bell Telephone Company as of 1937. She started in 1902, as a phone operator. She said, “I like my work. Every phase of it is very engrossing.” Born in Paterson, Sarah Jane worked at Bell in Paterson and other places until 1929…
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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.…
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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:…
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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…
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Janet MacRorie
1887-1950 Janet MacRorie was an journalist, adwoman, and radio censor, often based in Newark. Janet began her career as a journalist she was a reporter, feature writer, and women’s page editor for the Newark Star-Eagle, and previously New York City. She wrote the “advice to the lovelorn” column in the Star Eagle. She also worked…
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Olivia Queene Brown
1882-1954 Beauty culturist since 1912, ran the Poro Beauty School on 9 Wallace Street which she opened in 1936 or 1937. On her death, the Afro American wrote how she had organized the Poro Club, training women, and allowing hundreds of women to enjoy “a comfortable living as Poro beauticians, agents and shopowners”. The Afro…
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Anna E Whittington
c. 1875-1956 African American woman who ran her own real estate agency in Newark for more than 30 years from at least 1910. Left an estate over $100,000. She went by “A E Whittington”. Member of the Priscilla Art and Literary Club and the exec committee of the North Jersey Branch of the National Negro…
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Rose Kussy
1887-1955 Rose Kussy was president of the West Side Trust Company after the death of her husband. She was a director of the Jewish News. She was a member and secretary of the Newark Central Planning Board. Rose was appointed to the Planning Board in 1943, was Secretary of the Planning Board as early as…