Category: Education, Museums and Libraries
-
Elvira Rodrigues
1918-1985 Elvira Rodrigues (left) co-owned Dan’s Friendly Services in Newark with her husband (oil). She was of the East Side High School advisory board and Newark Library board of trustees, as well as the Ironbound Senior Citizens Club and St. Jame’s Hospital Auxiliary .She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968. Elvira…
-
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. She also co-wrote a radio program on NJ Afr. Am. history and worked with the NJ Historical Society to promote African American…
-
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 as the YMCA and the Newark Preschool Council. She was a member of the Board of Education. Born Gladys St. John, Gladys…
-
Katherine Coffey
1900-1972 Katherine Coffey was director of the Newark Museum from 1949-1968. During her tenure she expanded education programs and programs for the visually impaired & apprentice training . The Museum established an endowment Fund in her honor. Katherine was born in New York, graduated Barnard and joined the museum staff in 1925. She was one…
-
Beatrice Winser
1869-1947 Beatrice Winser was director of the Newark library and museum from 1929-1942 (only female library director until Wilma Grey!). She was also the first female member of the Newark Board of Education (1915). Born in Newark, Beatrice grew up in Germany where her father was stationed. She joined Newark library in 1889, becoming assistant…
-
Mrs. (Lena) Parker O. Griffith
c. 1880-1960 Mrs. (Lena) Parker O. Griffith (c. 1880-1960) created the Griffith Music Foundation which brought nationally recognized musicians to Newark and sponsored educational programs and a yearly student music contest. Lena was active in promoting music from the 1930s and organized the foundation in 1938. She was also an organizer of the Essex County…
-
Hilda Hidalgo
1928-2009 Hilda Hidalgo was a Newark activist. In Newark, she co-founded Aspira of New Jersey, La Casa de Don Pedro and the Puerto Rican Congress and worked with numerous other community organizations. Hilda came to Newark in 1960 and worked as district director for the Girl Scouts, then director of Child Services, until 1970. She…
-
E. Alma Williams Flagg
1918-2018 Alma Flagg was the first African American principal of an integrated school in Newark in 1964, in 1967 she was appointed assistant superintendent. She also wrote poetry. She was appointed principal after four teachers including Flagg accused the city of bias. The complaint was dismissed, however, she was appointed principal of Hawkins Street School…