c. 1917-2003
Julia Bates was the first African American student at Douglass College, followed by a career of teaching and research. A coworker said, “She was truly a pioneer and an unsung heroine.”
Julia Baxter Bates was the first African-American student admitted to Douglass College. Douglass admitted her without realizing her race, but accepted her after some hesitation, though she wasn’t allowed to live on campus. The Afro American stated she received a large scholarship there in 1935. In 1937, she received a bronze medal plaque from the French minister of Foreign Affairs for her demonstration of methods of teaching French, the first time anyone at the school had received this medal. She was an honors student throughout her career at Rutgers.
After Rutgers, Julia attempted to teach, but could not get a student teaching job in New Jersey’s high schools due to her race. Instead, after earning her Master’s degree from Columbia University she became an instructor at Dillard University in New Orleans.
After Dillard, Julia spent 25 years heading the research component at NAACP headquarters and her research included helping to write the winning brief in Brown vs. Board of Education.
Soon after that, she returned to Columbia (1965) and then to Newark and worked, as education director at NewArk Prep, a residential alternative school for 12 years.
Then she worked at Essex County College securing millions in funding for first-generation students, retiring in 1996.
Julia was the granddaughter of James Baxter, principal of the Colored School. She grew up in Somerset County. As a child, she often visited her aunt Dr. Mae McCarroll in Newark. While in college, she was lived in the family home at 15 Elm St. She is in the Rutgers Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
Bibliography
https://scarletandblack.rutgers.edu/archive/exhibits/show/douglass-firsts/julia-baxter
“Julia Baxter Bates, civil rights champion” Star Ledger July 23, 2003
Kukla, Barbara J. Defying the Odds.
Census records
“College and School News” Crisis Oct 1941
“City Mourned Both Youth” Star Ledger Jan 1, 2004
“New Jersey Girl Gets Scholarship” Afro American Jun 22, 1935
“Clyde Barrie…” Newark News Jun 5, 1937
“Girls From Essex Get NJC Awards” Newark News Nov 7, 1936
“They are Among this Years Grads” Afro American Jun 25, 1938
“All Wanted to Dance With Her” Afro American Aug 26, 1939
“Julia Baxter Graduates” NJ Herald News Jun 11, 1938
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