Category: 1870-1889 (Born)
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Mary Dennis Poland
c. 1873-1947* Born in Ohio, Mrs. Poland was the wife of state superintendent Addison Poland. However, she was accomplished in her own right. She was the first woman to be award a doctorate in philosophy, which came from NYU. In Newark she was dean of girls in Newark High School (Barringer) for 26 years until…
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Hamilton Family
Laura Bland Hamilton 1853-1952 Laura Hamilton was born into slavery in VA. She came to Newark after the Civil War with her sister and married Frederick Hamilton. Founder of Bethany Baptist Church. She organized a factory making baby clothes in her home which she ran for 18 years. Her husband also had an automobile exchange…
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Linda H. Morley and Adelaide C. Kight
1885-1972, 1889-1972 Linda Morley was head of the business branch of Newark Public Library after Sarah Ball and before Marian Manley from 1917(1919?)-1926. With Adelaide Kight she wrote “2400 business books and guide to business literature” (1920) and “Business books 1920-1926” (1927). The Wilson Bulletin called Kight and Morley the “moving spirits of Newark’s Business…
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Sarah Bedell Ball
1879-1962 Sarah Ball was head of Newark’s business library from 1907 to about 1919. She was inducted into Special Library hall of fame in 1959 with Alma Mitchell. She helped found the Special Libraries Association. Later Sarah became a bookseller in New York (Ball & Wilde) and died in Hartford, CT. Sarah was born in…
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Sara Jane Ash
1886-1973 Sarah Jane Ash was one of only two woman engineers at NJ Bell Telephone Company as of 1937. She started in 1902, as a phone operator. She said, “I like my work. Every phase of it is very engrossing.” Born in Paterson, Sarah Jane worked at Bell in Paterson and other places until 1929…
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Grace Oliver Duryee
c. 1874 – 1945 Grace Duryee headed the East Side Day Nursery for 31 years. She worked closely with philanthropist Louise Shugard. The Newark News wrote she “has been mother and grandmother to two generations of Newark’s children from all parts of the city”. Louise Shugard said, “she is the most faithful soul I’ve ever…
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Justina Eller
1886-1939 Justina Eller was the third policewoman appointed in 1918 with Margaret Dugan and Etta Fallon. They were the first and for many years only policewomen. Justina worked interviewing women prisoners, catching shoplifters, and was assigned to the casualty squad and the censor bureau. She died on duty in 1939 with the Deputy Chief stating,…
