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Evelyn Laccitiello
1945- Evelyn Laccitiello worked for the Newark Tax Assessor’s Office for for 47 years! She was appointed as a clerk stenographer in 1964 and retired in 2011, as Tax Assessor for Newark. Born in Newark, Evelyn lived in Florida briefly before returning to New Jersey and attending Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Newark.…
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Jean Eng Lee & Marshee Eng
1923-?, 1899-1990 Marshee and Jean Eng were a mother and daughter at 81 Columbia Street in Newark’s Chinatown who were profiled several times for their ambition and commitment to the WWII efforts in Newark. Marshee was known as “the bean sprout lady” in Chinatown and Jean was class treasurer and voted Most Respected in her…
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Marguerite MacDonald Carpenter
1886-1977 Marguerite MacDonald Carpenter was an early lawyer who was admitted to the Bar in 1928. She was a secretary of the NJ Civil Service Commission in Newark, also teaching night classes in typing and stenography at Central High School. She was active for women’s rights, appearing before the State Constitutional Committee in 1948. She…
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Emma Smith Lesch
c. 1878 – 1953 Emma Lesch was considered one of the first women to train a performing tiger. Posters said she was the only woman to include a tiger in a “mass animal” act, with other types of animals. Other articles said she was, “the only woman ever to handle a tiger in public.” In…
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Franotie Alston Washington
Franotie Alston, Franotie Washington 1942-2018 Franotie Alston Washington was a lifelong Newark resident who served for 35 years with the Newark Public Schools, much of that time as director of art education. Franotie Alston was born in Newark and lived with her mother Atha Alston at 97 Peabody Place, attending Summer Place School, Elliott Street…
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Altha Bleach Alston
1916-1963 Altha Bleach Alston was the first Black women state parole officer in New Jersey. In 1941, she supervised Black girls in Essex County after they were released from state custody. A 1941 profile said she was fond of her work which enabled her to “aid girls”. Her office was in the Newark Hall of…
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Myrtle Malcolm Borton
1890-1959 Myrtle Borton ran a foundry in the Ironbound. Born, Myrtle Malcolm, Myrtle lived in Belleville as a child and then Clifton Avenue in Newark. She was baptized in the South Market Street Methodist Church. As a child she worked with her father at Riverside Steeling Casting Co, where he was a partner. By 1915,…
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Marietta Gless Barkhorn
1893-1969 Marietta (Mariette) Louise Glass was a lifelong Newark resident and leader in community affairs, serving on several statewide boards. Marietta was born in Newark and attended St. Mary’s in Newark and St. Ann’s in Wilkesbarre, PA before graduating Barringer in 1909 and Barnard in 1913. Her parents were separated and she lived with her…
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Edna Rainey Thomas
1941 – 1997 Edna Thomas was a community activist for affordable housing, day care, AIDs patients, and drug treatment, founding a drug treatment program. Councilman Tucker said, “Newark has lost one of its giants. Edna was not a normal person. Every activity I was involved she was there.” Born Edna Rainey in 1942, Edna lived…
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Margaret Moore
Margaret Cannon Moore, Margaret Akins 1908 – 1979 Margaret Moore, who the Afro American called “a great lady” was a senior citizen advocate and active in civic Newark life. After her death, the Court Tower Apartments were named in her honor. In 1971, she was cited as one of the NJ Afro American Women of…