Category: Social Work and Philanthrophy

Asimina Zois

1909-1987 Arrived in Newark at age 7 from Greece. She began sending care packages back to her native village in … More

Anna Lois Russ Jones

1911-1987 Mother of Amiri Baraka. Born in Alabama, lived in Newark from 1926. Attended Tuskegee, Fisk, and Shaw College. Administrator … More

Maggie Clay Beckett

c. 1892-1972 Founded the James H. Beckett funeral home with her husband. President of the New Jersey State Federation of … More

J. Isabelle Sims

c. 1873-1952 Prolific Newark social worker and lifelong Newarker. Directed Fresh Air Fund Camps for 32 years and would travel … More

Delores Rich

1948-1996 President of the Aspen Riverpark Tenants Association, who did lots of organizing for tenants in the building. Tenants were … More

Marie Wolfs

1885-1986 Marie Wolfs was a Vice Principal of South Side High School for more than 30 years until her retirement … More

Marion Roberson Kidd

1928-2012 Born in Newark. Worked 15 years with the North Jersey Community Union later named Newark Community Health Center, as … More

Christiana Oehler Trefz

1831-1913 Image from 1889 city atlas President and manager of the Christiana Trefz Brewing Company. She managed the company from … More

Curvin Family

The sisters of historian Robert Curvin. There were six daughters. They were born in Newark, but they grew up in … More

Annette “Tony” O’Flaherty

1920-2000 Served in leadership roles in many social service organizations. Representative of the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Chairwoman of Human … More

Duryee Family

(Photo from FindAGrave, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery) All heavily involved in missionary work – specifically the Women’s Board of Foreign Missions … More

Grizel Ubarry

1953- From Fund for New Jersey: Grizel Ubarry is president and sole proprietor of G. Ubarry Inc. For the last … More

Sister Carol Johnston

1944-2013 Sister Carol was born and raised in Newark and attended St. Vincent’s Academy. She was Director of the Women … More

Sister Deborah Humphreys

1950- From the Hispanic Research Center at the Newark Library: “Sister Deborah Humphreys, a social worker and Catholic nun, devoted … More

Marleny Franco

1955- Founder of the Greater Newark Conservancy. Born in Colombia. In Newark from the 1980s-2000s, executive director of the Conservancy … More

Sarah Schloss

1838-1924 For 38 years, president of the Frauen Verein Naechstenliebe or Friendly Sisters which was a leading Hebrew charitable organization … More

Mildred Miller Free

1893-1939 Prominent in church and women’s circles. Active in St. Philips Church and the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s … More

Grace Eubanks Malone

c. 1908-1994 First black welfare director in New Jersey. Worked as a social worker for the city starting in 1931, … More

Pauline Sims Puryear

1900-1971 Miss Pauline Puryear was a social worker in Newark for many years. She’s famous nationally for being the 4th … 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

Violet Johnson

1870-1939 Civic leader and suffragist in Summit. Active in the New Jersey Federation of Colored Womens Clubs and the New … More

Florence Randolph

1866-1951 Suffragist, ordained minister and clubwomen. Organizer of the NJ Federation of Colored Womens Clubs. Randolph’s life has been covered … More

Bertell Collins Wright

1908-1993 President of the Essex County Tuberculosis League, based in Newark at 42 Park Place, sometimes called “Director of Negro … 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

Mariana Higbie Barker

1880- April 24, 1967 Born in Newark, graduate of Smith College 1901. President of the Board of Babies Hospital. She … More

Stella Windsor Wright

1887-1932 From North Carolina. Social worker who helped establish the Friendly Neighborhood House with Gladys Churchman and Louise Shugard. Stella … More

Jennie Reich Danzis

1875 – Sept 24, 1945 Wife of Max Danzis and was one of the founders of Beth Israel Hospital, with … More

Elizabeth Albright Spurr

1870-1934 Newark native and lifelong resident. Founder of the Newark Branch of the Red Cross in 1917. She was also … More

Theresa Swartz Grotta

1836-1922 Bohemian Jewish immigrant. Worked tirelessly on behalf of needy families in Newark, president of Hebrew Ladies Immediate Relief Society … More

Trish Morris-Yamba

1944*-2019 Founded the CHEN School. She was recognized as a visionary in the field of early childhood education. She was … 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 H. Avery Hine

1822-1907 18-year president of the YWCA, later honorary president. On death, she was the oldest member of Christ Church in … 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

Renee Starks Steed

1914-1996 Born Renee Gregory. Fashion designer. Directed Renee’s School of French Designing and Modeling (591 High St) and ran New … 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

Rose Kussy

1887-1955 President of the West Side Trust Company after the death of her husband. Graduate of Barringer (Newark) High and … More

Connie Woodruff

1921-1996 Journalist, labor organizer, educator. City editor of the New Jersey Herald News. Also wrote On the Scene in Jersey … More

Esther K Untermann

1896-1989 First woman secretary of the Newark Civil Defense Council (1953-1962, gained international recognition, works produced for radio and TV) … 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

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

Marie Foster Whigham

1923-2006 Helped her husband Charles Whigham to found Citi National Bank and Whigham Funeral Home. Mayor Sharpe James called her … More

Hannah (Burnet) Kinney

1761-1862 Helped found the Newark Female Charitable Society in 1803 and served as president. “A star in the social world … More

Hannah Mandeville

1811-1902 Born into slavery, one of the first members of the African American Plane St. Church and active in the … More

Rebecca Andrade Doggett

1941- Founder of Tri City People’s Corp. First Director of the Essex County Office of Citizen’s Services, the founding Executive … 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

Nellie Grier

c. 1900-1984 Mrs. Nellie Grier, who was known as “Mother Grier” in Newark, founded and directed the senior center on … More

Grace Baxter Fenderson

1882-1962 Grace Baxter Fenderson (1882-1962) was one of the first African American teachers in the Newark Public Schools and taught … More

Leila Gardner

1914-1993 Leila Gardner was executive director of the Newark Traveler’s Aid Society. She was the first African-American in the nation … More

Pryno B Hillman

c. 1916-1964 Pryno B. Hillman (c. 1916-1963) founded the Mary Bethune Social Club, was an organizing and creative director of … 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

Emily Coe Jenkinson

1855-1922 Emily (Coe) Jenkinson (d. 1922) served as president of the Newark YWCA for more than 20 years. The Sunday … More

Gladys Churchman

1902-1974 Gladys Churchman ran the Friendly Neighborhood House, as well as being part of the Churchman Funeral Home. She was … More

Louise Shugard

1870-1951 Louise Shugard was known as “the most prominent woman in Newark”. She worked with the Red Cross, Colored Free … More

Mary Beasley Burch

1906-2001 Mary Beasley Burch founded the Leaguers non-profit focused on the development of African American youth & was the first … More

Musette Brooks Gregory

1876-1921 Musette Gregory was a suffragist and activist. She was a leader in the Urban League of Newark and Vice … More

Caroline Bamberger Fuld

1864-1944 Caroline Bamberger Fuld, sister of Louis, helped found famed Newark store Bamberger & Co. She devoted her later life … More