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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…
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Anna Lundy Lewis
1916-2002 Anna Lundy Lewis (“Madame” Anna Lundy Lewis) was a virtuoso piano and organ player, gospel star, and minster of music at New Hope Baptist Church. She performed with Bing Crosby, Aretha Franklin and Sarah Vaughan and taught piano and vocals to hundreds of people including Doris Duke. She was called, “a pioneer who’s career…
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Dorothea Lee
1930 – 2007 Dorothea Lee involved in multiple organizations serving high positions in the Newark NAACP, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Womens’ Clubs, and heading American Veteran’s Post 5, the first woman to do so. She was also the first Black woman member of the New Jersey Air National Guard. Friend Tracy Mumford…
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Lucye Harrington Lee
1907-2000 Lucye Harrington Lee was known as a “volunteer extraordinaire” around Newark. Connie Woodruff said, “In an age where money often motivates people Lucye is the epitome of a true volunteer.” Lucye was also social editor of the New Jersey Afro American for many years starting in 1947. At University Hospital, she was called the…
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Mildred Kaiser
1903-1991 Mildred Kaiser taught at Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts for 62 years. She was also an artist and calligrapher, giving private instruction and doing her own work in graphic arts, including with various advertising firms. She showed art at Newark Library in 1978 and 1979. In 1968 she illustrated the book Creative…