Mamie White Bridgeforth

1944- Mamie Bridgeforth was a City Council member from 1998-2006. She is a community leader, professor, Chairperson of the Division … More

Wilnora Holman

1911-1994 Wilnora Holman was a community leader in Newark and an activist in education, housing and senior services. Mrs. Holman … More

Ruth Greenberg Shiminsky

1918-1971 Ran for NJ Governor on the Socialist Workers Party in 1961 (living 202 Clinton Pl Newark), 1965 (2 Aldine … More

Corrina Pitters Kay-Williams

1924-1994 Corrina Kay-Williams was born to Jamaican parents in East Orange. She served as an Essex County freeholder, East Orange … More

Ruth McClain Rambo

1940- Ruth Rambo, known at the time as Ruth McClain, is a graduate of Fisk University. In the 1960s she … More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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