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Rebecca Newby
1919 or 1920-2005 Born in Alabama, raised in Newark, Newby attended Robert Treat and West Side High, where she was a member of the Glee Club and voted most likely to succeed vocally. Newby designed and made dresses and was known as a fashion model. She studied fashion at Pratt and New York Manhattan Trade…
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Josephine Belle Janifer
1925-2018 Born in Montclair, Josephine Janifer was a counselor for the Newark Job Corp and in 1965 Exec Director of the Newark Preschool Council. In 1979, she became the first Director of the Newark Private Industry Council, an employment and training group for disadvantaged residents. She retired in 1992. Josephine served widely in the community…
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Geneva, Helena and Gertrude Turman
The three Turman sisters performed with their brother Buddy in nighclubs around Newark and New York. Gertrude Turman performed in Newark nightclubs as a “shake dancer”. Helena also specialized in dance. Geneva Turman was a popular soloist Helena Turman 1914-1970 Besides family performances, danced in shows produced by Johnny Gardner and toured with Harlem on…
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Louise A Stewart Spencer
1916-1971 Louise A Spencer was director of the (combined) Newark Parent Teachers Associations. She was vice President of the Newark March of Dimes and served on the Essex County PTA. She was a member of the Baxter Terrace Youth Organization, Baxter Terrace Tenement League and North District Public Commission Council. Louise A Spencer Elementary School,…
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Mamie White Bridgeforth
1944- Mamie Bridgeforth was a City Council member from 1998-2006. She is a community leader, professor, Chairperson of the Division of Social Sciences at Essex County College, and an ordained minister. She is currently Pastor of the Faith Christian Center Ministries in Newark, New Jersey. Bridgeforth has worked for Essex County as a faculty member for…
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Wilnora Holman
1911-1994 Wilnora Holman was a community leader in Newark and an activist in education, housing and senior services. Mrs. Holman was a Housing Authority commissioner from 1989-1995. She was also Tenant Association President at James C. White Manor, chairwoman of the Central Ward Advisory Council, and president of the George Branch Civic Association. Mrs. Holman…
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Ruth Greenberg Shiminsky
1918-1971 Ran for NJ Governor on the Socialist Workers Party in 1961 (living 202 Clinton Pl Newark), 1965 (2 Aldine St, Newark). In 1965, she was the only woman candidate for governor. She opposed the Vietnam War, supported Civilian Review Boards, and supported a higher minimum wage and a shorter work week. She also supported…
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Fannie W Sweasy Smith
c. 1851 – 1923 Fannie W Smith was the only Newark women to attend the International Congress for Women in 1915, representing the New Jersey branch of the Woman’s Peace Party. Fannie also served as Vice Principal of Newton Street School, teaching in Newark for 40 years. Her sister Augusta was Vice Principal of Lincoln…
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Patricia Fenix Kettenring
1941-2023 Born in CA, created and directed the Business and the Arts Program at the Rutgers Newark Business. Pat taught courses in marketing, non-profit accounting, entrepreneurship, and arts fundraising. Pat wanted to address inequality in Newark through arts so she founded GlassRoots in Newark in 2001. GlassRoots provides glassmaking workshops and business skill development for…
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Nadaline Wolfson Dworkin
Aug 5, 1928 -May 17, 2017 Born in NYC, Nadaline Wolfson married Donald Dworkin in 1947 and they lived in Newark’s Weequahic section by the late 1950s. By 1958 she was on the Board of the Newark Business and Professional Chapter of American Jewish Congress, where she was chairman of the Y Nursery School Committee.…