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Sheila D Banks
1956-1992 Sheila Banks was 2nd in the Class of 1974 at Weequahic High School. She was the first Black women to graduate from Steven’s Institute of Technology in 1978 (the school began admitting women in 1971). She received an engineering degree, with a concentration in chemical engineering. In 1974 she completed a Cornell University program…
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Huldah Clark
1947- Huldah Clark made international news in 1961. Her family lived in the Christopher Columbus Housing Projects, with 6 children. Her father could not afford living expenses for the whole family, and also believed schools in Newark were segregated “Jim Crow schools”. When he received an offer from Nikita Khrushchev that would cover his daughter’s…
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Gloria Del Toro
1920-2011 Founding director of Newark Public Schools bilingual program. She was supervisor of the Chapter 1 program for English proficiency which served 5000 students and operated in 23 schools. Eugene Campbell, former superintendent stated that she pioneered bilingual and bicultural education in the district. She initiated campaigns that spurred the availability of a GED in…
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Ida Clark
1921-2006 Tenant advocate and NHA Commissioner, who had a “colorful and charismatic” personality and was known as “Mother Clark”. Appointed as a NHA commsioner in 1986, where she pushed education and programs for youth. She served as Chair and Vice Chair. This made her the first tenant in the history of NJ public housing to…
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Theresa David
1923-2004 Theresa S. David was the first Black teacher to be hired permanently at a High School. Previously, Black teachers were only hired on temporary status or as subs. She shows up on the results of the Civil Service test for “secondary Spanish” in the Newark News in 1947, but other sources give her start…
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Eva A Jennings
1863-1935 Early Black graduate of Newark High School. Went to Commerce Street School. First Black graduate since Malvina Sears and Elida Lowery, making her the 3rd Black graduate. Shown on the Newark census in 1870 and 1880. In 1880 she lived with the family of Clara Mulford, the first Black student to attend the High…
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Malvina Sears & Elida Lowery
First Black graduates of Newark High in 1877 Many people have heard of the first Black student to enter Newark High School, Clara Mulford. Clara entered in 1872, but did not graduate. Entering in 1873, two other students were the first Black graduates of Newark high school: Melvina (Malvina) Sears & Elida G Lowery. They…
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Jessie Parsons Condit
1885-1983 Executive director of the Children’s Aid Society on Springfield Ave in Newark, where she worked for 35 years. The Children’s Aid Society served “as a protective agency for children”, provided “guidance and treatment for behavioral problems” and placed “children in boarding and adoptive homes.” Graduated Barnard College and started as the Executive secretary of…
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Maud “Peggy O’ Wing” Wingk Batsch
Sept 1896 – early 1930s? Maud P Wingk lived with her mother Lena, her father a laundry dealer (William) and three sisters Janette/Lulu, Alma and Nora (names differ on census records). She was born in Brooklyn (some articles say China) but quickly moved to Newark and graduated from St. Bridget’s School, along with her sisters.…
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Estelle Stuckelman Greenberg
1933- Estelle Greenberg was an activist in Newark in the 1960s. Among other roles she was: chairman of Essex County Concerned Democrats, ran the Freedom Democratic Party in Newark and was a leader in the South Ward Independent Voters League. Estelle and her husband Gerald lives at 17 Porter Ave in Weequahic. Some of her…