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Olive A Mathews Summers
1876-1911 Olive Summers was born and raised in Newark. She lived at 192 Charlton St and New York Age called a “much beloved public school teacher”. She graduated the Normal School in 1898. Olive was an assistant in the Colored School from at least 1905. In 1909, when the School closed she was transferred to…
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Emily B Thomas
1870-1924 Emily B Thomas was an assistant teacher to James Baxter at the Colored School from at least 1888. She pent most of her teaching career at Commerce Street School and was a member of the Phyllis Wheatly Society. Emily was appointed a delegate to the National Congress of Colored Educators, by the Governor, in…
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Alma Beatty
1940-2015 Alma Beatty was Vice President of Community Affairs at Beth Israel. Beth Israel calls her “a trailblazer in our community”, She was the founder and coordinator of Beth Israel’s annual health and wellness fair. It was named in her honor in 2012. A street in Newark was also named in her honor in 2015.…
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Sister Carol Patricia Johnston
1944-2013 Sister Carol was born and raised in Newark and attended St. Vincent’s Academy, becoming a Sister of Charity in 1962. She was Director of the Women and Family Program at St. Columba Neighbor Club, Newark. She was project and planning Director for Ironbound Community Corporation. A boulder honoring Sister Carol in Riverfront Park says,…
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Sister Deborah Humphreys
1950-2024 In 1975, Deborah Humphreys founded and served as executive director (1975-1980) of El Club Del Barrio( St. Columba Neighborhood Club) in Newark. It worked to prevent eviction, repair housing, and enforce tenant rights, as well as other social services. After founding El Club Del Barrio, Deborah worked as a Legislative Aide for Senator Lipman…
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Marleny Franco
1955- Marleny Franco is the founder of the Greater Newark Conservancy. She was executive director of the Conservancy for many years. She was previously director of the Rutgers Urban Gardening Program in Newark. Marleny was born in Colombia. She lived in Newark from the early 1980s to about 2000. She came to Newark, after attending…
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Mary Dennis Poland
c. 1873-1947* Born in Ohio, Mrs. Poland was the wife of state superintendent Addison Poland. However, she was accomplished in her own right. She was the first woman to be award a doctorate in philosophy, which came from NYU. In Newark she was dean of girls in Newark High School (Barringer) for 26 years until…
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Sarah Schloss
1838-1924 Sarah Schloss was president of the Frauen Verein Naechstenliebe or Friendly Sisters which was a leading Hebrew charitable organization in Newark for 38 years. She was named an honorary life member and honorary president of the organization and the oldest member as of 1910, having been a member for 48 years. Sarah lived in…
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Irene E Morris
1900-1953 Irene Morris worked as a registered nurse for the Board of Health for over 25 years. She graduated from Mercy Hospital in Philadelphia with the class of 1922. Irene is listed as a nurse in city directories from 1923 and appointed as a visiting nurse for the Board of Health March 1926, and a…
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Mildred Miller Free
1893-1939 Mildred Free was prominent in church and women’s circles. She was active in St. Philips Church and the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs of which she was Recording Secretary and Financial Secretary. She was active in the Phyllis Wheatly Society, where she was secretary, and the Lit-Muse Club. Mildred was also secretary,…