Category: Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy
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J. Isabelle Sims
c. 1873-1952 J Isabelle Sims was a prolific Newark social worker and lifelong Newarker. Isabelle directed Fresh Air Fund Camps for 32 years and would travel to be at the Summit camp even when in a wheelchair in later life. She was an executive of 1923 Community Chest Campaign and director of the Newark Welfare…
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Delores Rich
1948-1996 Delores Rich was President of the Aspen Riverpark Tenants Association, who did lots of organizing for tenants in the building. Tenants were forced out of the old Prudential Apartments to allow Aspen to renovate it. Delores and others organized to pressure the state to allow tenants to return and continually organized for better conditions…
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Marie Wolfs
1885-1986 Marie Wolfs was a Vice Principal of South Side High School for more than 30 years until her retirement in 1951. However, she had a very exciting life outside the school. In 1914, she and her sister Helen, who also worked at South Side, were caught in the bombing of Liege, Belgium. According to…
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Marion Roberson Kidd
1928-2012 Marion Kidd was a community activist working for welfare rights, who also worked many years with the North Jersey Community Union. In 1966, she led a group of welfare mothers to complain about welfare issues to the Essex County Welfare Board. In 1967, she was chairwoman of the UCC Welfare Committee, for Area Board…
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Christiana Oehler Trefz
1831-1913 Christina Trefz was President and manager of the Christiana Trefz Brewing Company. She managed the company from 1876, when her husband died, until 1889 when it merged with Krueger, after which her son served as superintendent. She became “one of the wealthiest and best known women of this city”. In 1893, the Newark German…
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Curvin Family
The Curvin Family, the family of historian and activist Robert Curvin had several interesting and important women. The family had six daughters. They were born in Newark, but they grew up in Belleville at 68 Belmont Ave. The family lived on Cottage Place and other addresses in Newark through at least 1930. Jewel Curvin (featured…
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Annette “Tony” Doyle O’Flaherty
1920-2000 Annette O’Flaherty served in leadership roles in labor, social service, county and city. She was president of the CIO Women’s League of New Jersey, a member of the Newark local assistance board, Essex County Manpower Office director and spokeswoman, and chairwoman of Newark Emergency Services for Families Homeless Task Force. She was also active…
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Duryee Family
(Photo from FindAGrave, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery) The Duryee family was all heavily involved in missionary work – specifically the Women’s Board of Foreign Missions Reformed Church in America (WBFM of the RCA). Mary, Anna, Charlotte and Amy were sisters and Charlotte was their sister in law. They were very involved in North Reformed Church. From…