Category: Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy
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Altha Bleach Alston
1916-1963 Altha Bleach Alston was the first Black women state parole officer in New Jersey. In 1941, she supervised Black girls in Essex County after they were released from state custody. A 1941 profile said she was fond of her work which enabled her to “aid girls”. Her office was in the Newark Hall of…
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Marietta Gless Barkhorn
1893-1969 Marietta (Mariette) Louise Glass was a lifelong Newark resident and leader in community affairs, serving on several statewide boards. Marietta was born in Newark and attended St. Mary’s in Newark and St. Ann’s in Wilkesbarre, PA before graduating Barringer in 1909 and Barnard in 1913. Her parents were separated and she lived with her…
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Edna Rainey Thomas
1941 – 1997 Edna Thomas was a community activist for affordable housing, day care, AIDs patients, and drug treatment, founding a drug treatment program. Councilman Tucker said, “Newark has lost one of its giants. Edna was not a normal person. Every activity I was involved she was there.” Born Edna Rainey in 1942, Edna lived…
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Margaret Moore
Margaret Cannon Moore, Margaret Akins 1908 – 1979 Margaret Moore, who the Afro American called “a great lady” was a senior citizen advocate and active in civic Newark life. After her death, the Court Tower Apartments were named in her honor. In 1971, she was cited as one of the NJ Afro American Women of…
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Dorothea Lee
1930 – 2007 Dorothea Lee involved in multiple organizations serving high positions in the Newark NAACP, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Womens’ Clubs, and heading American Veteran’s Post 5, the first woman to do so. She was also the first Black woman member of the New Jersey Air National Guard. Friend Tracy Mumford…
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Lucye Harrington Lee
1907-2000 Lucye Harrington Lee was known as a “volunteer extraordinaire” around Newark. Connie Woodruff said, “In an age where money often motivates people Lucye is the epitome of a true volunteer.” Lucye was also social editor of the New Jersey Afro American for many years starting in 1947. At University Hospital, she was called the…
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Paula Laddey
1880-1966 Paula Laddey was an early woman lawyer in Newark serving from 1913-1950, during some of which she had her own Newark office. She served eight years as the assistant probation officer of Essex County. In 1914, she became attorney and executive secretary of the Legal Aid Society of New Jersey, in Newark, where she…
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Clara Laddey
1856-1932 Clara Laddey was an important suffragist in New Jersey, who served as President of the New Jersey Woman’s Suffrage Association (NJWSA) from 1908-1912. In this capacity she advocated for suffrage locally and nationally, including speaking at Military Park. A detailed biography of her suffrage work is available from Alexander Street Suffrage Database, linked below.…