Category: Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy
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Jessie Parsons Condit
1885-1983 Jessie Condit was executive director of the Children’s Aid Society on Springfield Ave in Newark, where she worked for 35 years. The Children’s Aid Society served “as a protective agency for children”, provided “guidance and treatment for behavioral problems” and placed “children in boarding and adoptive homes.” Jessie graduated Barnard College and started as…
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Mina Ginger Van Winkle
1875-1933 Mina Van Winkle was a famous suffragist who organized the Equality League of Self-Supporting Women in Newark in 1908. In 1912, the League was re-named the Women’s Political Union of New Jersey (WPUNJ), with Mina as president, and remained based in Newark, headquartered on Halsey Street. Mina was born in New York City, but…
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Josephine Belle Janifer
1925-2018 Born in Montclair, Josephine Janifer was appointed executive director of the Newark Preschool Council in 1972, after serving with the Council since the 1960s. In 1979, she became the first Director of the Newark Private Industry Council, an employment and training group for disadvantaged residents. According to a 1976 article, Josephine also worked as…
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Rose S. Ray Moryck
c. 1858 -1942 Rose S. Ray Moryck was the mother of Brenda Moryck. Rose was one of the first colored teachers and principals in NJ, according to her obituary in the New York Age. She hasn’t been found in the Board of Education Reports for Newark, so where Rose taught is a mystery. In Newark,…
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Mary and Louise Curcio
c. 1901-1973? , c. 1904-1987 The featured photo (above) is Mary Curcio, Daily News, 1931. Mary and Louise Curcio were two blind sisters born to Eva Bender and Paul Curcio in Newark. They lived on Morris Avenue. Mary entered school for the first time at Washington St. Public School when the first class for the…
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Everane (Eva) Crump Harris
1913-2006 Eva Harris was born in Pleasantdale, NJ but lived in Newark by 1930 and in the Ironbound at 101 Hawkins St by 1950, after her first husband died. She lived in the Ironbound for the rest of her life. Eva Harris was a teacher’s aide at Hawkins Street School for many years. She was…
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Willie Belle Hooper
1906-1999 Willie Belle Cooper was born in Georgia (maiden name: Saunders) and attended school, including getting a teaching certificate in Florence, S.C, after which she taught in several rural schools. According to her daughter, Newark would not accept her teaching certificate. In her oral history she says she tried to get “in school” and couldn’t…
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Asimina Speros Zois
1909-1987 Asimina Zois began sending care packages back to her native village in Greece after WWII, and later sent packages to Vietnam servicemen all over the world. In 1969 the post office gave her a Humanitarian Award for her work. She said, “What we throw away in this country they can use over there. The…