Category: 1850-1869 (Born)
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Ruth C. Battles Dickerson
1867-1939 Ruth Battles was an early Black graduate of Newark High School, in 1891. In 1894 and 1895 she is listed as running a Select School in Newark at 187 Commerce. Ruth married Rev. Charles Dickerson in 1895 but in 1901 sued him for desertion. He had to pay her $4 a week (later revised…
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Laura Thompkins
c. 1850 – 1942 In 1941, the Newark Sunday Call featured Laura Thompkins, a former slave, born in Georgia. Laura lived at 104 West St., Newark, and the article claimed she was 96 years old, having lived in Newark for more than 50 years. Laura spent her time knitting Bundles for Britain to help soldiers…
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Maud E Johnson
1864-1947 Maud E Johnson was the librarian of the New Jersey Historical Society for over 25 years, when it was on West Park Street in Newark. Maud was a graduate of Pratt Library School 1899. She organized the library of poet William Cullen Bryant, before being hired by the NJ Historical Society in 1902. Maud…
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Eva A Jennings
1863-1935 Eva A Jennings was an early Black graduate of Newark High School. She went to Commerce Street School and was the first Black graduate since Malvina Sears and Elida Lowery, making her the 3rd Black graduate. Eva is shown on the Newark census in 1870 and 1880. In 1880 she lived with the family…
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Malvina Sears & Elida Lowery
First Black graduates of Newark High in 1877 Many people have heard of the first Black student to enter Newark High School, Clara Mulford. Clara entered in 1872, but did not graduate. Entering in 1873, two other students were the first Black graduates of Newark high school: Melvina (Malvina) Sears & Elida G Lowery. They…
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Fannie W Sweasy Smith
c. 1851 – 1923 Fannie W Smith was the only Newark women to attend the International Congress for Women in 1915, representing the New Jersey branch of the Woman’s Peace Party. Fannie also served as Vice Principal of Newton Street School, teaching in Newark for 40 years. Her sister Augusta was Vice Principal of Lincoln…
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Rosa L Sears Scudder
c. 1852 – 28 Jan 1930 Rosa Sears was the mother of Clara Scudder, piano prodigy. Rosa taught in the Colored School with James Baxter from at least 1870 until her marriage to David Scudder in 1873 and is still listed under her maiden name as a teacher in the 1874 city directory. Rosa’s sister…
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Julia A. Mason Voorhees
c. 1867-May 4, 1915 Julia Mason was the only student from the Colored School to test into the High School in 1880 with an 82.7%, higher than many other students. She was the first Black student to graduate from the High school, directly from the Colored School, since 1877. When she graduated in 1884, the…