Category: 1910-1929 (Born)
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Marie Anderson Bagby
1925-2003 Marie Bagby (1925-2003) was a teacher starting in 1944, and eventually principal at Barringer, West Side and University High Schools, before retiring in 1991. Marie also served on the board of St. Michael’s Medical Center, the affirmative action committee of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, the executive board of the Newark Principal’s Association,…
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Elvira Rodrigues
1918-1985 Elvira Rodrigues (left) co-owned Dan’s Friendly Services in Newark with her husband (oil). She was of the East Side High School advisory board and Newark Library board of trustees, as well as the Ironbound Senior Citizens Club and St. Jame’s Hospital Auxiliary .She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968. Elvira…
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Sophie L Cooper
1912-1971 Sophie L Cooper was Newark’s first elected councilwoman, in the South Ward from 1957-1962. She was appointed unanimously by the Council after the death of her husband in Jan 1957, and then was elected in a special election in Nov 1957, and again in May 1958. After being elected she stated she wanted to…
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Bernice Bass
1926-2000 Bernice Bass (right) had a major presence in the city’s music, radio, & political scenes. Bernice had a Sunday evening radio program on WNJR: News & Views playing gospel, commentary and interviews, causing the Star Ledger to call her, “one of the city’s most influential newswoman” upon her death. She interviewed both Martin Luther…
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Hilda Hidalgo
1928-2009 Hilda Hidalgo was a Newark activist. In Newark, she co-founded Aspira of New Jersey, La Casa de Don Pedro and the Puerto Rican Congress and worked with numerous other community organizations. Hilda came to Newark in 1960 and worked as district director for the Girl Scouts, then director of Child Services, until 1970. She…
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M. Bernadine Johnson Marshall
1923-1997 Marie B. Johnson, of Newark, was one of the first African American women in NJ to be admitted to the NJ bar in 1949 with Martha Belle Williams. When they graduated they made the front page of the Newark News and Bernadine said she had “dreamed of this since I was a little girl…Oh…
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E. Alma Williams Flagg
1918-2018 Alma Flagg was the first African American principal of an integrated school in Newark in 1964, in 1967 she was appointed assistant superintendent. She also wrote poetry. She was appointed principal after four teachers including Flagg accused the city of bias. The complaint was dismissed, however, she was appointed principal of Hawkins Street School…
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Jennie Levell Lemon
1913-1982 Jennie Lemon ran for city council in 1969. She founded the Jennie Lemon Civic Association. She served as president of Zion Towers tenants association, advocating for tenants. She was active in the NAACP, serving in many roles, including as the county’s membership and political action chairman. She advocated for minorities, senior citizens, and the…