Category: 1870-1889 (Born)
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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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Helen M Berry
c. 1878-1941 Helen Berry was very active in Essex County Republican politics and a member of the Essex County Board of Elections. From 1920-1924, she was vice chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee. From 1926, she was a member of the Republican State Committee, serving as Vice Chairman (1927-1931). In 1938, she was appointed…
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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,…
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Margaret P. McMahon Dugan
c. 1885-1947 In 1918, Margaret Dugan, Justina Eller and Etta Fallon were appointed as Newark’s first policewomen and only policewomen for a long period afterwards. Born in Harrison, Margaret was a store detective before being appointed to the police. Margaret was appointed director of the juvenile bureau and promoted to sergeant in 1943, with Etta…
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Lydia Gelston Spring Osborne
1876-1958 The Star Ledger wrote “A tiny woman bubbling with good cheer Mrs. Osborne had become a familiar figure in almost every important civic enterprise since the 20s”. She said, “I love Newark, I remember Newark when you would greet everybody in town when you went out marketing. It’s very changed today”. Lydia was very…
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Eloise Frazer Gehin
c.1877-1941 Eloise Gehin was a leader in the Republican Party. She was the first woman to serve as Vice Chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee (1920) and first Essex woman member of the Republican State Committee (1921). Eloise was active in the General Wood Campaign Committee, president of the Calvin Coolidge Club (founded 1924),…
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Violet Johnson
1870-1939 Violet Johnson was a civic leader and suffragist in Summit. She was active in the New Jersey Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs and the New Jersey Women Suffrage Association. Violet Johnson’s life has been expertly chronicled in Betty Livingston Adam’s book Black Women’s Christian Activism and her biographical sketch linked below. Bibliography Adams, Betty…