Category: Time Period: 1890-1909 (Born)

Mildred Roberts Helms

1907–2002 Community activist, encouraged the building of affordable housing in Clinton Hill. In 1972, she helped found the Clinton Hill … More

Willie Belle Hooper

1906-1999 Born in Georgia and attended school, including getting a teaching certificate in Florence, S.C, after which she taught in … More

Asimina Zois

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

Rose Slavitt

1895-1969 Born in Newark, but grew up in New York for some years (1910). Back in Newark by 1915. First … More

Elizabeth Hardin Goss

1895-1953 Graduated Miss Townsend’s School in Newark and then went to Vassar where she broke the world record in shot … More

Dr. Edith Gann

1905-1998 Graduate of Miller Street School, South Side High and the Normal School. Received a Phd from psychology from Columbia. … More

Mary Womble Spruel

1906-1988 An early Black teacher, hired in 1945 (see Timeline, bottom of page here). Born and raised in Montclair and taught … More

Maude E Emery

1888-1973 Born in Boston, came to Newark before 1905. Graduated Barnard in 1910. Taught Latin and History at South Side … More

Bertha Rosenthal

1891-1957 Early College of Pharmacy graduate in 1909, “one of the youngest graduates of the college”. Only one other woman … More

Irene E Morris

1900-1953 Born in Newark. Listed as a nurse in city directories from 1923. Appointed as a visiting nurse for the … 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

Hamilton Family

Laura Bland Hamilton 1853-1952 Born into slavery in VA. Came to Newark after the Civil War with her sister and … More

Mildred Morris Williams

1905-1958 Born in Newark. One of the early Black teachers in Newark. In 1938 the Herald News called her “one … More

Dr. Gertrude Ash Golat

c. 1909-1980 Graduate of University of Vienna Medical School, came to Newark in 1939. For 25 years worked as a … 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

Edythe Raabe

1907-1977 First woman graduate of Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT) in 1930. She was the first woman in the … More

Rose Danzis Parsonnett

c. 1900-2003 Duaghter of Max Danzis, a founder of Beth Israel Hospital and Jennie Danzis. Attended South Side High School … More

Miss Rhapsody Viola Wells

1902-1984 Photo from Barbara J Kukla Papers Born in Newark, Viola Wells, known as Miss Rhapsody was an internationally acclaimed … More

Miriam Ogden Ball

1890-1968 From an old Newark family, born in Newark daughter of Mary Depue Ogden. Attended Wellesley College and worked briefly … More

Emma Egge Oschwald

c. 1883-1960 Born in Newark, first woman to graduate the NJ College of Pharmacy in Newark, along with Esther Newman … 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

Myrtle C. Williams

1900- 15 Jun 1965 (?) Grew up in Newark on Chestnut St. First “colored girl” to finish a 4 year … More

Dr. Eva Topkins Brodkin

1899-1994 First female dermatologist in New Jersey. Practiced in Newark from 1927 to 1977. Also chief of dermatology at St. … More

Gladyce Black Sherman

1908-1995 Artist and educator. Member of the faculty of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts for over 20 … 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

Marion Thompson Wright

1902-1962 Graduate of Barringer High. First African American woman in the US to earn a PHD in History. Rutgers annual … More

Marian C Manley

1892-1977 Ran Newark’s Business Library, a branch of the Public Library from 1926-1954. She retired in Oct 1954. Under her … More

Alma C Mitchill

c. 1893-1960 A Brooklyn native, Alma Mitchill came to Newark 2 years after graduation. She served as librarian at PSE&G … More

Dr. Vera Schectman

1890-1971 Russian immigrant. Graduate of the Women’s Medical College of UPenn. The first woman doctor at Beth Israel Hospital in … More

Elizabeth Miele

1898-1975? Went to Barringer and Central High graduating Central in 1918. Newspaper reporter for the Newark Ledger, lawyer, publisher of … More

Majorie M Sweet

1892-1963 In Newark from at least 1915. The Sunday Call claimed she was the first licensed woman automobile driver in … More

Dorothy Palmer

c. 1893-1984 Operated the Dorothy Palmer School of dancing on Broadway in Newark for more than 50 years. Retired in … More

Elsa Greenwood

1893-1957 Lifelong resident of Newark, who attended Robert Treat School. She ran the Elsa Greenwood School of Dance. When she … More

Julia Sabine

1905-1990 Head of the Art and Music Department at Newark Library. Worked at the library for over 40 years. Taught … 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

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

Lillian B Huff Stewart

1909-2007 Social writer, social editor of the New Jersey Herald News in Newark. Reporter who covered all kinds of stories … More

Harriet Stratemeyer Adams

1892-1982 Wrote over 200 books over her literary career, including the plot outlines for many Nancy Drew books. Took over … More

Mae Muldrow

1909 -1977 Owned LaVogue Beauty Salon. Nationally known and active with the Cordelia Greene Johnson Foundation (scholarships for beauticians). She … More

Alice Bunce

1893-1970 Alice E. Bunce was the first African American woman to graduate from the New Jersey College of Pharmacy in … More

Mabel Irene Gilman

c. 1897?-1943 Miss Mabel Irene Gilman who lived on Clinton Ave., was the first female detective appointed by Essex County … More

Adelaide Wilson

1901 or 1902 – ? Adelaide Wilson was raised in Newark and worked as a reporter. In 1922 she hiked … More

Miriam Studley

1899-1984 Miriam Studley headed our Charles F. Cummings NJ Information Center for many years and wrote a feature for the … 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

Pansy L Borders

1906-1978 Pansy L. Borders (1906-1978) was the first director of Child Guidance for the Newark Board of Ed and served … More

Golden Johnson

1903-1984 Golden Johnson was the first black woman to serve as a Newark municipal court judge. She grew up in … More

Eurlee Wright Reeves

c. 1898- after. 1988 Eurlee Reeves (center) was Newark’s only female night club owner in the Swing Era. She founded … 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

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 Epperson

1908-2002 Louise Epperson was key in the protests against UMDNJ in the 1960s & helped negotiate the Medical School Agreements. … More

Katherine Coffey

1900-1972 Katherine Coffey was director of the Newark Museum from 1949-1968. During her tenure she expanded education programs and programs … More

Camille Sabie

1902-1998 Camille Sabie won two gold medals in the 1922 World Games and later became a physical education teacher. Branford … More

Dr. E. Mae McCarroll

1898-1990 Dr. E Mae McCarroll was the first American American physician at Newark City Hospital in 1946. She said she … More

Jennie Precker

1892-1981 Jennie Precker founded the nation’s first woman’s bank the Susan B. Anthony Building & Loan Association. It was the … 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

Dorothea H Wingert

1905-1990 Started writing for Newark newspapers in her teens. Wrote dozens of articles for a series on business and professional … More

Brenda Estelle Ray Moryck

1894-1949 Black writer and social activist born in Newark. Worked with Newark Bureau of Charities. She published short stories, essays, … More

Effa Manley

1897-1981 Effa Manley owned the Newark Eagles, championship winning Negro Leagues team with her husband Abraham Manley. She was very … More