Category: Education, Museums and Libraries
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Mary Wheeler Willis
1929-1987 Mary Willis was a founder of the Newark Day Care Council in 1967 and Springfield Avenue Community School in 1969. In 1987, she former Springfield Avenue Community school was renamed the Mary Wheeler Willis Day Care Center, in her memory. Mary was a lifelong resident of Newark. She was the sister of Newark power…
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Geneva Streeter
1943- Geneva Streeter (Wardell, Campbell) was the first Black “Queen of Rutgers-Newark” campus and her modeling career at Rutgers put her in national magazines. After college, she became a Newark teacher and principal for many years. Geneva Streeter grew up in Newark living at 156 Livingston St in 1950. She graduated West Side High, class…
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Vickie Donaldson
c. 1949 – Vickie Donaldson was a leader of the Black Organization of students during the takeover of Conklin Hall in 1969, and joined the Board of Education at age 23. Later, she became the first woman to be General Counsel of the Newark Board of Education and served as Director of Homeless Services for…
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Betty Harris Neals
1934- Betty Neals is a nationally-recognized poet, who has performed in Newark, New Jersey and nationally, who also had a 37-year teaching career in East Orange. In 1975, she was featured in New York City’s Black History Week and the New York Amsterdam News called her a “Newark born writer” who “is also a beautiful…
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Mary Sue Sweeney Price
1951- Mary Sue Sweeney Price was the director of the Newark Museum from 1993 to 2013. When she retired she was called, “inspirational, insightful, a keen politician, a cultural warrior” and “the grand dame of our arts community.” Mary Sue started working at the Museum in 1975 as supervisor in the public relations office, appearing…
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Sister Mary Walter Dwyer
1929 – 2022 Sister Mary Dwyer was principal of Saint Columba School in Newark, in one of the poorest sections of Newark and with Deborah Humphreys, she was a driving force in the Saint Columba Neighborhood Club / El Club Del Barrio. Deborah Humphreys wrote, “It was never enough for Sr. Mary to just be…
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Gloria Hopkins Buck
1939- Gloria Hopkins Buck is widely involved in culture and philanthropy throughout Newark. She has served as a Trustee at the Newark Museum and is a founding charter member and Chairperson for the Newark Black Film Festival. She was on the the Literacy In the Arts Task Force, appointed by Gov Kean. She has been…
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Constance Hedden Schotland
1906-1997Constance Hedden was a Board of Education member, teacher and active in civic groups. Born in Newark on James Street, Constance Hedden graduated from Barringer High in 1924 and then Dennison University, and Montclair State Teachers College, where she received a Masters in Education in 1933. She took other teaching courses at Columbia, NYU and…