1930-1995
Clara Dasher was President of the Essex County College Board of Trustees and a longtime active member and leader of the Newark Teacher’s Union.
Clara was a teacher from 1959-1973. She was an assistant to Carole Graves and Vice President, who took over leadership of the Teachers Union while Carole was in jail for striking. The New York Times called Clara “slight but fiery”, during this time. Clara received the 1988 Governor’s Award for Labor Person of the Year for her work with the Teacher’s Union. Clara was also President of the state and county A Philip Randolph Institutes, which were labor organizations.
Clara served on the Governor’s Commission on Public Responsibility for Educational Success and the state Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission, as well as the Mayor’s Task Force in East Orange. She was on the Board of Trustees of the North Jersey Community Union and the Urban League.
The Essex County College Student Center is named after her.
Clara attended Jersey City State and Newark State.
Bibliography
Cummings, Charles F. “Tales of men and women who made a real difference in their community” Star Ledger Feb 27, 1997
Clara E. Dasher Student Center
Barbara J Kukla Papers (photo), Newark Library
Butterfield, Fox. At Root of Newark Teacher Strike: Race and Power New York Times Apr 8, 1971
“Clara E Dasher, 65, Essex College Exec” Star Ledger Nov 14, 1995
Lucas, Caryl “Newark Honors Women Who Changed Their City” Star Ledger Mar 4, 1998
Photo from Star Ledger Feb 9, 1986
Verona Cedar Grove Times Dec 9, 1993
“Honored” Star Ledger Dec 21, 1981
“Teacher Gets Scholarship” Newark News Jun 16, 1966
Hayes, Michael “Newark Teachers Union” Newark News Jun 29, 1972
Picture Collection , CFCNJIC, Newark Library (featured photo dated 1985)