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Florence M. Rose
1876-? Florence M. Rose was one of the earliest lawyers in NJ, she was admitted to the bar in 1898, when only three other women had passed the bar, one of whom was Mary Philbrook. In 1902, Florence passed her counselor at law exam. She said she found her work “very fascinating” and would advise…
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Paula Laddey
1880-1966 Paula Laddey was an early woman lawyer in Newark serving from 1913-1950, during some of which she had her own Newark office. She served eight years as the assistant probation officer of Essex County. In 1914, she became attorney and executive secretary of the Legal Aid Society of New Jersey, in Newark, where she…
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Clara Laddey
1856-1932 Clara Laddey was an important suffragist in New Jersey, who served as President of the New Jersey Woman’s Suffrage Association (NJWSA) from 1908-1912. In this capacity she advocated for suffrage locally and nationally, including speaking at Military Park. A detailed biography of her suffrage work is available from Alexander Street Suffrage Database, linked below.…
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Carolyn Whigham
1949- Carolyn Whigham owns and runs Whigham Funeral Home and is known for skill in organizing funerals including for celebrity clients. She became director of Whigham Funeral Home in 1986 and has run over 6000 funerals including for Houston family and Congressman Donald Payne. She also hosted How to Conduct High Profile Funerals” seminars across New…
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Mary Wheeler Willis
1929-1987 Mary Willis was a founder of the Newark Day Care Council in 1967 and Springfield Avenue Community School in 1969. In 1987, she former Springfield Avenue Community school was renamed the Mary Wheeler Willis Day Care Center, in her memory. Mary was a lifelong resident of Newark. She was the sister of Newark power…
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Flora Freeman
c. 1753-1856 When Flora Freeman died in 1856 at 102 or 103 the Centinel of Freedom called her “a venerable colored woman” and “an interesting representative of her people of the past generation”. The Centinel wrote Flora, “often entertained her guests with the recital of many thrilling incidents which occurred during the American Revolutions”. Flora…
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Joan Whitlow
c. 1949- Joan Whitlow, now retired, has been called the first full-time Black woman reporter at the Star Ledger. She was also the first Black woman to be medical editor in the country. Joan wrote on health, education and the Newark city government. Joan worked for the Ledger from at least 1973-2011 and she had…
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Dr. Evelyn Boyden Darrell
1923-2016 Evelyn Boyden Darrell was a Newark Black journalist, writing a national column for the Afro, and later the first Black woman psychologist at Bellevue Hospital in NYC. Evelyn Boyden was born in Newark in 1923 and graduated with the West Side High class of 1940. She lived on South 13th Street and Bruce Street…
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Pamela E. Goldstein
1946- Pamela Goldstein worked in public relations for the City of Newark from at least 1976-2004, serving as Communications Director under Mayor James from 1986-2004. Pamela grew up in West Orange and attended West Orange High , graduating in 1964. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Journalism from Boston University School of Public Information. Pamela…
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Geneva Streeter
1943- Geneva Streeter (Wardell, Campbell) was the first Black “Queen of Rutgers-Newark” campus and her modeling career at Rutgers put her in national magazines. After college, she became a Newark teacher and principal for many years. Geneva Streeter grew up in Newark living at 156 Livingston St in 1950. She graduated West Side High, class…