Category: Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy
-
Anna W. Hilton Monroe
1878-1973 Anna Monroe was active in Black social and civic organizations in Newark for many years. She was a founding member of the Urban League, president of the Newark Branch of the NAACP, and financial chairman for the Sojourner Truth Branch of the YWCA and the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Price’s Freedom…
-
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…
-
Georgia Henson Hearn
1892 -1998 Georgia Hearn lived to age 105, making her one of the oldest Newark residents at her death. Friends said she didn’t smoke or drink, didn’t eat much meat, and kept busy, and had a strong religious faith. She said, “I never had any trouble finding work and life’s been pretty good.” Georgia known…
-
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…
-
Ame Amelia Garrison
c. 1909 – 1997 Amelia Garrison was a swing-era saxophonist who travelled widely playing with bands, also leading NJ’s only female orchestra as of 1938, according to the New Jersey Herald News, Ame Garrison’s Sirens of Swing. During her career she said, “usually I was the only female sax player they had ever worked with.”…
-
Laura Thompkins
c. 1850 – 1942 In 1941, the Newark Sunday Call featured Laura Thompkins, a former slave, born in Georgia. Laura lived at 104 West St., Newark, and the article claimed she was 96 years old, having lived in Newark for more than 50 years. Laura spent her time knitting Bundles for Britain to help soldiers…
-
Catherine Mouserrone Lynch
1876-1939 Catherine Lynch was the founding Secretary of the Phyllis Wheatley Society and secretary of the Board of Management of Colored Home for Aged and Orphans, for 32 years. She was also involved in the 250th anniversary of Newark celebration. In 1941, a plaque was unveiled in her honor at the Colored Home. Catherine grew…
-
Gloria Del Toro
1920-2011 Gloria Del Toro was founding director of Newark Public Schools bilingual program. She was supervisor of the Chapter 1 program for English proficiency which served 5000 students and operated in 23 schools. Eugene Campbell, former superintendent stated that she pioneered bilingual and bicultural education in the district. She initiated campaigns that spurred the availability…