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Wynona Moore Lipman
1923* -1999 Though Lipman is well known as a Senator, some of her early accomplishments are lesser known. She got a Fulbright scholarship at a young age, was a professor at Morehouse in French, starting in 1945, and taught Martin Luther King. Born Evelyn Wynona Moore in Georgia, Wynona married interracially when it was illegal…
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Grace Oliver Duryee
c. 1874 – 1945 Grace Duryee headed the East Side Day Nursery for 31 years. She worked closely with philanthropist Louise Shugard. The Newark News wrote she “has been mother and grandmother to two generations of Newark’s children from all parts of the city”. Louise Shugard said, “she is the most faithful soul I’ve ever…
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Justina Eller
1886-1939 Justina Eller was the third policewoman appointed in 1918 with Margaret Dugan and Etta Fallon. They were the first and for many years only policewomen. Justina worked interviewing women prisoners, catching shoplifters, and was assigned to the casualty squad. She died on duty in 1939. She was born in Brooklyn. Bibliography “Justina Eller, City…
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Margaret P. McMahon Dugan
c. 1885-1947 In 1918, Margaret Dugan, Justina Eller and Etta Fallon were appointed as Newark’s first policewomen and only policewomen for a long period afterwards. Born in Harrison, Margaret was a store detective before being appointed to the police. She was appointed director of the juvenile bureau and promoted to sergeant in 1943, with Etta…
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Cabiria Assunta Polo Accarino
1914-2007 Lifelong Newark resident. Attended Barringer High and the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts. Ran for North Ward Council in 1962. Organized the Forest Hill Little Children’s Theater in 1959. Taught piano, voice and drama for many years and had her own Italian language radio program where she wrote her own material. Involved…
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Lydia Gelston Spring Osborne
1876-1958 The Star Ledger wrote “A tiny woman bubbling with good cheer Mrs. Osborne had become a familiar figure in almost every important civic enterprise since the 20s”. She said, “I love Newark, I remember Newark when you would greet everybody in town when you went out marketing. It’s very changed today”. Born in Brooklyn,…
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Eloise Frazer Gehin
c.1877-1941 Leader in the Republican Party. First woman to serve as Vice Chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee (1920) and first Essex woman member of the Republican State Committee (1921). Active in the General Wood Campaign Committee. President of the Calvin Coolidge Club (founded 1924). Essex Chairman of the Landon volunteers (1936). President and…
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Ingrid Betancourt
1956- Hispanic Services Coordinator at the Newark Public Library and head of Ethnic Services and Collections. Arrived at the library in 1980. Helped found La Sala, a room for service Spanish speakers, as well as the NJ Hispanic Research and Information Center which contains the Puerto Rican Community Archives. Later, assistant director and interim director…
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Doris Thompson Dorsey
1911-1985 Doris Dorsey was the first Black woman supervisor in the Newark Post Office in 1966. She was “the only woman in an 18 member section”. She had been a Postal employee since 1942. She worked supervising West Station 255 Springfield Ave. (Photo 1957 City Directory before she was appointed supervisor). She grew up in…
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Edythe Raabe
1907-1977 First woman graduate of Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT) in 1930. She was the first woman in the United States to receive a degree in chemical engineering. From Lyndhurst, she worked for AT&T. She later lived in White Plains, NY. Bibliography Instructions for Useful Ends (NJIT) Newark College of Engineering 1930 Yearbook NJ…