1885-1974
Irene Rutherford O’Crowley was an early woman lawyer, born in Newark. She attended Barringer High School and graduated from NJ Law School 1919 as Vice President of her class. In 1900, the family lived on Lombardy Street and Irene lived there at least through 1920 when she was in law school.
Irene was the first President of the Newark chapter of Zonta International. She was a member of the International Association of Woman Attorney and active in the League of Women Voters. She was admitted to the NJ Bar in Feb 1920 and later admitted to practice before the Supreme Court, with a Sunday Call headline in 1926 calling her “only woman lawyer in both New York and New Jersey courts.” She practiced law in an office in the Essex Building with Elizabeth Miele.
Around 1929, Irene bought a house in the Highlands, but continued to be credited as a “Newark lawyer”. As of 1966, she maintained an address at 605 Broad Street Newark.
Irene also founded the Gourmet Society of New Jersey Earlier in her career she wrote for the Newark Star Eagle.
Bibliography
“Only Woman Lawyer In Both New York and New Jersey Courts” Newark Sunday Call Dec 19, 1926
Smith, Ann M. “Broadway Producer Looks Back At Newark Days” Sept 24, 1954
Nussbaum, Jerry, Personally Speaking May 7, 1956.
Scannell’s New Jersey’s First Citizens
“Irene R O’Crowley” Asbury Park Press Jan 19, 1974
“Estate of Walter J Grove” Daily Register Jul 15, 1966
O-2, O’Crowley, Irene, Newark News Morgue, Newark Public Library (below, click for larger, right click save to zoom)
