Category: Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

Marie Foster Whigham

Feb 26, 2022

in 1910-1929 (Born), African Americans, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Business & Entrepreneur, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1923-2006 Marie Whigam helped her husband Charles Whigham to found Citi National Bank (1973) and Whigham Funeral Home. Mayor Sharpe James called her “the queen of our city”, saying “she was a role model for young and old”. Marie also founded the Women’s League, which raised money for scholarships and was active in the Boys…
Sally Carroll

Feb 25, 2022

in 1910-1929 (Born), African Americans, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Law and Law Enforcement, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1922-2019 Sally Carroll was one of the first Black policewomen in Newark along with Rhoda Daniels and Eleanor M. Stokes in 1949 . She was the first Black woman detective with the Essex County Sherriff’s Office. She was active with the Batons. After entering the police in 1949, she took the Civil Service promotional exams…
Hannah Kinney

Feb 25, 2022

in 1820 and Before (Born), Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1761-1832 Hannah Kinney helped found the Newark Female Charitable Society in 1803 and served as president. She was described as “A star in the social world of her day as well as a writer and theologian” and “a belle in her youth.” She also instituted the first Sabbath schools in the city. Hannah was born…
Hannah Mandeville

Feb 25, 2022

in 1820 and Before (Born), African Americans, Religious, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

c. 1810 – 1902 Hannah Mandeville was born into slavery, one of the first members of the African American Plane St. Church and active in the church. Her Newark News obituary said she was “well known to the negroes of this city and to many white people for her piety and good works”. The Daily…
Augusta Levine Parsonnet

Feb 25, 2022

in 1870-1889 (Born), Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Immigrant (born outside the Continental US), Jewish Women, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy, Suffrage

1870-1949 Augusta Parsonnet was president of the Women’s Political Union of New Jersey. She was the first President of the League of Women Voters of Newark. She was also first President of the Ladie’s Guild of Beth Israel, a founder of Haddasah’s Newark Chapter and first President the Newark Council of Jewish Women. She also…
Rebecca “Becky” Andrade Doggett

Feb 24, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), African Americans, Community Activists, Education, Museums and Libraries, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1941- Rebecca Doggett has had a long varied career in community organizing, social services, government, education and corporate. She was a founder of Tri City Citizens Union for Progress in 1966 and in the 1970s. In 1965, she was first President and later Executive Director of the Newark Preschool Council. In 1979, she was appointed…
Mollie Dawkins

Feb 23, 2022

in 1890-1909 (Born), African Americans, Community Activists, Politics & Government, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1908-1984 Mollie Dawkins was co-organizer of the Dawkins Civic Association, worked for the Housing Authority, and coordinated the Sunshine Teleservice for senior citizens. She was also founder of Community Preservation Service, to improve her neighborhood around Leslie and Schley Street, for which she was honored in 1966. Mollie and her husband founded the South Side…
Nellie Grier

Feb 23, 2022

in 1890-1909 (Born), African Americans, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

c. 1900-1984 Mrs. Nellie Grier, who was known as “Mother Grier” in Newark, founded and directed the senior center on Clinton Ave (now named after her) and organized the Newark Senior Citizens Council. In 1975, she organized the Emmanuel Senior Citizens Center. She said, “Too many older people sit home…just get worse…But when they come…