1931 – 1998
Gloria Butler was a political activist in the Central Ward. She became involved in local politics in the 1950s from friendships with Irvine Turner and Timothy Still, among others. She was a Democratic committeewoman and district leader, for many years in Hayes Home and “a fixture at the polls, working tirelessly to elect candidates she favored”. Jet Magazine wrote that she was “instrumental in the election of many Black officials”.
She also helped form the first board of the United Community Corp, the anti poverty agency. Newark News articles from the late 1960s often mention her in conjunction with UCC, including as co-chairman of the Program Committee and as a member of the Board and Executive Committee.
Gloria was also a Girl Scout leader. Gayle Cheneyfield-Jenkins said of Butler, “She was like a mom to all the kids.”
Gloria grew up in Newark, in 1940 she and her father and seven siblings lived at 83 Highland Ave. She married Frank Bridges in 1950, and Roman Butler in 1965. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Greater Philips Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Her husband said, “Gloria went to church every night just to help people.” In 1968, she was also on a committee organizing NJSO concerts in the Central Ward.
Outside of politics, she worked for Essex County Geriatric Center for 33 years, and previously for the Newark Board of Education.
Bibliography
Kukla, Barbara J. “Gloria Butler, a beacon of activism in Newark” Star Ledger Sept 18, 1998
NJ Marriage Index
Cummings, Charles F. “Today’s City Residents Build on Their Legacy” Star Ledger Mar 7, 2002
“Leaders to Form Steering Group” Newark News July 14, 1968
Newark Evening News including “Blazer Group Becomes Trust” Nov 24, 1967;
Cummings, Charles F. “In Civil Rights, Charity and Politics they Made Their Mark” Star Ledger Mar 31, 2005
Photo, Barbara J. Kukla Papers
UCC Meeting Minutes, UCC Report, other items from Newark Library digital collection; more items are under the name Gloria Bridges HERE