1940- Ruth Rambo, known at the time as Ruth McClain, is a graduate of Fisk University. In the 1960s she … More
Category: Politics & Government
Naomi Sylvia Charner Campbell
1925-2017 Naomi Charner was a graduate of South Side High who lived at 712 Bergen St and 140 Somerset St … More
Grizel Ubarry
1953- From Fund for New Jersey: Grizel Ubarry is president and sole proprietor of G. Ubarry Inc. For the last … More
Rose Baldasare Maker
1913-1997 1939 Women’s Singles NJ Tennis Champion and the Newark Open Champion 4 years in succession. Lived at 258 Van … More
Shirley Northern Green
c. 1935-1983 Appointed director of the Division of Public Welfare in 1978 by Ken Gibson. Previously served as Rent Control … More
Helen Berry
c. 1878-1941 Very active in Essex County Republican politics and a member of the Essex County Board of Elections. From … More
Wynona Moore Lipman
1923* -1999 Though Lipman is well known as a Senator, some of her early accomplishments are lesser known. She got … More
Eloise Frazer Gehin
c.1877-1941 Leader in the Republican Party. First woman to serve as Vice Chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee (1920) … More
Doris Thompson Dorsey
1911-1985 Doris Dorsey was the first Black woman supervisor in the Newark Post Office in 1966. She was “the only … More
Lydia Young Hayes
1871-1943 First director of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind which had offices in Newark at 14 James St … More
Margaret Douglas Haines
1884-1966 Lifelong resident of Newark. Member of the General Assembly 1949-1953. Taught at Garfield and Avon Ave Schools. Canteen worker … More
Alice Condit Kirkpatrick
11 Dec 1875 – 15 Jan 1951 First woman in Newark to head a city governing board. Elected in 1917 … More
Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto
1951- First woman and Latina President of United Way of Essex and Hudson. She was the first Hispanic elected Essex … More
Mary E. Cary Burrell
1866-1949 Born in Virginia. Strong member of NJ State Federation of Women’s Clubs from 1915, running the Legislative Department, while … More
Rosamond Stewart Marrow
1903-1972 President of the Board of the Community Hospital (African American hospital, previously Kenney) in Newark. Also on the faculty … More
Carole Anderson Graves
1938- President of the Newark Teacher’s Union. Leader of the 1970 Teacher’s Strike. Later ran for General Assembly and served … More
Grace L Gregory
1919-2007 Owned Poro Beauty Shop on West Market in the 1940s-1950s. In 1983, founded “Guiding Light Inc.” (originally Caring and … More
Audrey Harvey West
Audrey Harvey Massiah Harris West 1927-2003 Born Audrey Harvey in Trenton, Audrey attended Howard University and came to Newark in … More
Abigail Malmgreen
1909-2009 1926 Graduate of Barringer High. Worked at Bamberger’s Department Store and then for the Newark Welfare Department. Lifelong political … More
Kitty (Kearney) V. Taylor
1926-2008 Attended Charlton Street School and South Side High. Senior citizen activist and radio host on WNJR with “The Kitty … More
Pearl Beatty
1936-2019 Active in the Urban League, NACCP, organizing for JFK and the March on Washington. Attended Morton St. School and … More
Marie E Gonzalez
c. 1915-2006 Came to the US in 1929 and Newark in 1940. Called the “Puerto Rican Mayoress of Newark”. Chief … More
Elizabeth Burke Del Tufo
1933- Head of the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee. Newark Historian. Known for her tours of Newark. In 1980, first … More
Sally (Sara) E. Cooke Young
1905-1967 Born and raised in Newark. 1924 graduate of Central High. Lived at 169 Norfolk St when she graduated Central. … More
Gladys Grauer
1923-2019 Artist, launched the Aard Studio Gallery in Newark in 1972. Also ran for office with the Socialist Workers Party … More
Larrie West Stalks
1925-2015 Larrie Stalks was Essex County Register from 1974-1994. Stalks became Executive Secretary of the Newark Planning Board in 1962. … More
Mildred Crump
1938- Mildred Crump was Newark’s first African American councilwoman and first female council President. She was also the first African … More
Mollie Dawkins
1908-1984 Mollie Dawkins was co-organizer of the Dawkins Civic Association, worked for the Housing Authority and worked with South Side … More
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 … More
Sophie L Cooper
1912-1971 Sophie L. Cooper was Newark’s first elected councilwoman, in the South Ward from 1957-1962. Photo from Newark Public Library. … More
Jennie Levell Lemon
1913-1982 Married to Tom Lemon in Newark in 1950. Listed as a waitress in 1930, and a WPA Investigator on … More
Florence Haines
1869-1955 Secretary of the New Jersey Women’s Political Union Charter Member of the Newark League of Women Voters New Jersey … More
Marie Siconolfi Villani
1921-2021 Marie Villani was the first women in Newark elected to citywide office. She served as Councilwoman from 1973-1993. Lived … More