1935-2018
Dr. Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant was an advice columnist at Essence Magazine for over 25 years, writing the “Sexual Health” column. Essence called her “a legend in sexual health”. She wrote The best kind of loving : a black woman’s guide to finding intimacy
Besides her writing, Gwendolyn taught at public schools in East Orange, as well as at colleges including Newark Bible College and Essex County College. She was also a dancer and dance instructor in the 1950s, and founded he Bergen Street Community Group of performers. She was a prolific speaker across NJ and nationally, sometimes speaking on Black history as well as other topics.
Born Gwendolyn Goldsby, she lived in Newark for much of her life, she was recorded at 105 Morris Ave on the 1950 census at age 17 and in the 1990s was still listed on Wilbur Ave. She graduated Central High in 1951 and then the Panzer School of Education. She had a Masters from Newark State College, as well as an additional Masters, and two Doctorates (theology and education). She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha and married to Councilman Ralph T. Grant.
Bibliography
https://obits.nj.com/us/obituaries/starledger/name/gwendolyn-grant-obituary?id=9616206
https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/dr-gwendolyn-goldsby-grant-death/
Little, Benilde “Psychologist a Natural as Late Night Radio Advisor” June 17, 1984
Photo from Al Henderson Collection, Newark Library
Ancestry.com yearbooks
Newark Library Digital Collections 1, 2, 3, 4
“Newark State”, Central Home News, Jun 8, 1967
“Benefit Set” New York Age Mar 8, 1958
Boyden, Evelyn, “Day in Day Out in Newark, NJ” Afro American May 30, 1953
Couch, Hilda, “Prescription for Living” Jersey Journal May 24, 1971
Moon, Eileen “Adding to the Pages of History” Asbury Park Press Feb 28, 1992
Howe, Michelle “Book points…” Star Ledger May 15, 1995