Category: Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy
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Grace Baxter Fenderson
1882-1962 Grace Baxter Fenderson (1882-1962) was one of the first African American teachers in the Newark Public Schools and taught for 42 years, helped found the Newark Branch of the NAACP and served on the board of the Sojourner Truth branch of the YWCA. She was president of the Lincoln-Douglass Memorial Association. From 1936, she…
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Leila Gardner
1914-1993 Leila Gardner was executive director of the Newark Traveler’s Aid Society. She was the first African-American in the nation to head a Travelers Aid unit. She later worked for Family Services as a social worker for many years. The unit helped vulnerable travelers like children, immigrants and senior citizens at Newark Penn Station and…
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Pryno B Hillman
c. 1916-1963 Pryno B. Hillman was founder and president of the Mary McLeod Bethune Social Club, affiliated with the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Pyrno was an organizer and director of creative and performing arts at Central Avenue Community Center. She was a charter member and first president of the Newark branch of…
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Sarah Kussy
1870-1956 Sarah Kussy was a prolific Jewish leader. The Jewish News wrote that her death, “is being mourned as a loss to this community of one of its most widely known and beloved leaders. Her contributions to Jewish life were felt on the national, state and local scenes and had continued since before the turn…
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Maria DeCastro Blake
1911-2001 Maria DeCastro Blake was a dean of admissions at Rutgers and recruited hundreds of Hispanic students. She was one of the founders of ASPIRA, a founding member of the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey, founder and president of the Association for Professional Education of Puerto Ricans, a founding member of FOCUS and involved…
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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…
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Emily Coe Jenkinson
1855-1922 Emily (Coe) Jenkinson (d. 1922) served as president of the Newark YWCA for more than 20 years. The Sunday Call listed her in 1922 as one of 50 people who had done the most for Newark. Emily was born in Newark to George and Mary Coe. The family moved to Fulton, Illinois. Both Emily’s…
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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…