Firsts for Newark Women

First woman to report on the front lines of World War 1:

Cecil I Dorrian

First woman to run a bank staffed by all women:

Jennie Precker

First African American woman to get a PhD in history:

Marion Thompson Wright

First African American director of Traveler’s Aid

Leila Gardner

First executive director of the National Organization for Women:

Delores Alexander

First woman admitted to the New Jersey bar:

Mary Philbrook

First woman admitted to the Medical Society of NJ:

Eleanor Haines

First woman automobile driver in New Jersey:

Majorie Sweet

First woman funeral director in New Jersey:

Mary Woody

First African American woman Senator:

Wynona Lipman

First African American President of NJ Council of Counties:

Pearl Beatty

First African American admitted to Douglass College:

Julia Baxter Bates

First African American woman on NJ Parole Board:

Mary Burch

First African American woman admitted to NJ Bar:

M Bernadine Johnson Marshall

First African American woman admitted to NJ Bar:

Martha Belle Williams

First woman freeholder in District 2:

Pearl Beatty

First woman detective in Essex County:

Mabel Irene Gilman

First women judge in Essex County:

Esther K. Untermann

First woman president of United Way:

Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto

First African American woman to be warden of County Jail:

Gigi Foushee

First African American woman exec at Port Authority:

Rebecca Andrade

First African American woman presiding judge:

Betty Lester

First chair of West Orange Human Rights Commission:

Connie Woodruff

First Director of Cultural Affairs for Essex County

Liz Del Tufo

First Director of Essex County Office for Citizen Services:

Rebecca Andrade

First women elected to Council in 1958:

Sophie Cooper

First woman elected to citywide office in 1973:

Marie Villani

First African American councilwoman in 1994:

Mildred Crump

First woman to graduate Rutgers Law School in 1910:

Laura Mayo Wilson

First woman homicide detective c. 1955:

Ruth Dargan

First policewomen in 1918:

Margaret Dugan, Justina Eller and Etta Fallon

First African American woman municipal judge in 1974:

Golden Johnson

First Hispanic woman municipal judge:

Myrna Milan

First woman assistant chief of municipal court clerks:

Thelma Gillis

First African American police captain in 1998:

Barbara George

First African American policewomen in 1949:

Sally Carroll , Rhoda Daniels and Eleanor M. Stokes

First women on the Alcohol and Beverage Control Board:

M Bernadine Johnson Marshall

First African American City Department Head:

Larrie W. Stalks

First woman district physician in 1898:

Marie LeFort

First women graduates NJ School of pharmacy in 1901:

Esther Newman and Emma Egge Oschwald

First woman dentist in 1906:

Fannie Rosencrantz

First woman doctor at Beth Israel c. 1912:

Dr. Vera Schectman

First African American graduate of the NJ School of Pharmacy in 1923:

Alice Bunce

First African American doctor at City Hospital in 1946:

E. Mae McCarroll

First African American women on the Board of Health:

Louise Epperson

First woman principal of a grammar school in 1911:

Clara Zahn

First African American Rutgers Newark Graduate in 1937:

Louise Bullock

First woman Director of Newark Public Library:

Beatrice Winser

First female member of the board of education:

Beatrice Winser

First African American principal at a Newark School in 1964:

Alma Flagg

First African American woman on Board of Ed in 1951:

Mary Burch

First African American woman to edit the Rutgers Observer:

Sandra West

First African American Newark High student:

Clara Irene Mulford

First woman graduate of the Newark College of Engineering:

Edythe Rabbe

First supervisor of drawing in the Newark schools:

Sarah Fawcett

First President of the Newark Council for Jewish Women:

Theresa Grotta

First president & founder of Women’s Political Union:

Mina VanWinkle

First President of Newark chapter of Zonta International:

Irene Rutherford O’Crowley

First President of the Newark Branch of the Negro Council for Women:

Pryno Hillman

First woman firefighter in 1981:

Jacqueline Jones

First woman division manager at Prudential:

Mary McKeon

First woman Newark News reporter:

Lillian Garis

First European woman to arrive in the colony of Newark:

Elizabeth Ogden

First African American woman millionaire:

Louise Scott Rountree