Category: Time Period: 1930-1959 (Born)

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

Patricia Fenix Kettenring

1941-2023 Born in CA, created and directed the Business and the Arts Program at the Rutgers Newark Business. Pat taught … More

Debra Holmes

1953- Holmes was one of the first women in NJ to graduate as a Journeyman, Machinist, Tool & Die Maker … More

Gloria Jones Swieringa

1938- In 1956, Gloria Jones was believed to be the first blind student ever elected to the National Honor Society, … More

Elsie Reed Eatman

1930-2014 Born and raised in Newark, graduated East Side in 1948. She was a nurse (Martland), teacher and manager at … More

Mary Boland

c. 1950- Director of the AIDs program at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey in Newark. She co-founded the program … 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

Dorthaan Williams Kirk

1938- One of the first people hired by Newark’s jazz station WBGO and became the face of and a fierce … 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

Patricia Curvin

1936- Wife of historian Robert Curvin. Nominated to Essex County Ethics Board in 1980. Trustee and VP of the Boys … More

Curvin Family

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

Grizel Ubarry

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

Alma Beatty

1940-2015 Vice President of Community Affairs at Beth Israel. Beth Israel calls her “a trailblazer in our community”, She was … 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

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

Ingrid Betancourt

1956- Hispanic Services Coordinator at the Newark Public Library and head of Ethnic Services and Collections. Arrived at the library … More

Ramona Santiago

c. 1952- Photo from Newark Library. Ramona Santiago was appointed deputy mayor in 1994. Her grandfather came from Spain to … More

Connie Francis

1937 (some sources say 1938)- Pop singer and chart topping vocalist. Connie was born Concetta Franconero in the Ironbound section … More

Betty Lester

1945-2021 Worked in Public Defenders Office. In 1977 appointed a Municipal Court Judge at age 31. In 1985 appointed to … More

Eleta Caldwell

1945-2017 Principal at Arts High School 1991-2003, previously Chair of Art and teacher. Artist, co-founded the 1980s, “Black Women in … More

Wilma Jackson Grey

1945- Image from Newark Library First African American woman to Direct Newark Public Library. Library employee for 46 years. Graduated … More

Barbara George

c. 1953-2000 First woman and first African American woman police captain. Weequahic graduate. Sharpe James called her a “trailblazer, role … 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

Sandra King

1948- Born in Newark. Weequahic Class of 1965. Graduated from Rutgers Newark. Board of Newark Library, Branch Brook Park, and … 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

Myrna Milan-Rivera

1954- First Hispanic Newark municipal judge in 1988. Active with the Puerto Rican Congress and Aspira. In 1992, she was … 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

Janyce Jackson Jones

1951- Co-Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church located in Newark, NJ. Pastor of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church for which … More

Gloria Gaynor

1943- Born Gloria Fowles in Newark. Graduated South Side High in 1961. Singer. Biggest hit “I Will Survive”. Bibliography Barbara … More

Sandra West

1947-2019 1964 Weequahic graduate. Editor of the Black Organization for Students newsletter at Rutgers and first African American female editor … More

Nancy Zak

1948- Community organizer for environmental justice and housing with Ironbound Community Corporation. Key figure in the HUD Tenants Coalition. Rutgers … 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

Loraine White

c. 1947 In 1980, said to be the first Black woman to become a high school football coach in the … More

Amina Baraka

1942- Amina Baraka is an American poet, actress, author, community organizer, singer, dancer, and activist. She graduated from Arts High … More

GiGi Foushee

1947-1997 GiGi Foushee was a Newark police officer, county detective, head Newark’s ABC department, deputy mayor & first African-American woman … More

Zelma Mitchell Collins

1932- Zelma Collins was the first black teacher at South 17th Street School in 1952 and rose to principal! Later, … 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

Mildred Crump

1938- Mildred Crump was Newark’s first African American councilwoman and first female council President. She was also the first African … More

Barbara J Kukla

1940- Barbara Kukla was a reporter for the Star Ledger for 37 years. She has written many books on historical … More

Marion Bolden

1946- Marion Bolden was superintendent of the Newark Public Schools from 1999-2008. She was born in Newark and is a … More

Delores Alexander

1931-2008 Lesbian feminist writer and reporter Delores Alexander (1931-2008), born in Newark and worked for the Newark News. Later she … More