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Mary Boland
c. 1950- Mary Goretti Boland was director of the AIDs program at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey in Newark. She co-founded the program with Dr. James Oleske and was honored internationally for her work with children with AIDs. She said, “I am very impressed with the deep strengths shown by families of AIDS victims…I…
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Elizabeth “Betty” Hoyt Baker Henderson
1912-1999 Elizabeth Henderson, with her husband Dorland, bought and preserved, Newark’s oldest private residence: the Sydenham House. In the house, they lived as in colonial times in many ways, she wove cloth and grew her own vegetables. The couple threw an annual Christmas party and gala Spring party. The Hendersons bought the house in the…
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Marguerite L. Gates
1885-1965 Marguerite L Gates was born in Massachusetts, attended Mt. Holyoke College and then came to work at Newark Library in 1907 for John Cotton Dana. She became head of lending and then assistant librarian, the secondary position in the library to Beatrice Winser, from 1930-1942. Marguerite was briefly Acting Librarian after Winser left but…
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Bernice Schneiderman Edelcreek
1927-2015 Bernice Edelcreek was a lifelong Newark teacher who said “Newark was the only place I ever really wanted to teach.” Bernice was a physical education teacher and was named Newark’s Teacher of the Year in 1994. She said, “I am particular concerned…with youngsters who are having difficulty accomplishing the skills which are required in…
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Evelyn Silverstein Simpson
1931-2021 Newark space planner, interior designer, teacher and potter. Graduate of Weequahic High School and Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art. Lived on Renner Ave during highschool. She tudied ceramics at the Newark Museum, among other places, and studied at Edison State College, Pratt Institute and Parsons with concentrations in architecture, planning, and design.…
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Dr. Anna (Annie) T Nivison
1835-1920 An 1868 graduate of the New York Medical College for Women, Annie T Nivison opened “The Homestead” a private hospital in Newark in 1872. It was at 565-567 Orange St and later 5 North 11th Street. It had 10 beds. Anna’s sister Mary Nivison served as the matron for several years. Anna wrote articles…
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Eva Hodgson
1924-2020 Eva Hodgson was an internationally known Bermudian activist, union leader and author (read more here). However, she had an important Newark connection and was in Newark for a significant time period. In 1969, during the first years of Essex County College Ms. Hodgson was coordinator of Black Studies. Essex County was the first public…
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Bessie Lanier Smith
1924-1966 Bessie Lanier Smith was prominent in the Clinton Hill anti-poverty activities with United Community Corporation and as a community leader in Clinton Hill. She was first president of the area UCC leader board for Clinton Hill (Area Board 3) also known as People’s Action Group. Before UCC came to Newark, Bessie and her husband…
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Susan Amelia Barnett
1814-1897 Susan was a member of the first class of the New York Women’s Medical College, which graduated 1865. She practiced as a physician until four years before her death. She practiced for several years in Newark (city directories through 1870) and then in New York. “It was because of her desire to help the…
