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Una Janifer
1891-1963 Una Janifer, the mother-in-law of Josephine Janifer was extremely active in Newark civic life. In Feb 1963, she received the Brotherhood Award from the Newark Human Rights Committee. Una was born Una Staunton in Auburn NY and graduated Syracuse University, where she met her husband Dr. Clarence Janifer, in 1911. She taught briefly including…
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Kathleen P. Galop
1946-2024 Kathleen Galop was an attorney who was instrumental in preserving Branch Brook Park and founding the Cherry Blossom Festival. She served on the Essex County Parks Advisory Council and later became County Executive Historic Preservation Officer and Acting Director of the Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. She was president of the New Jersey…
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Mary Sue Sweeney Price
1951- Mary Sue Sweeney Price was the director of the Newark Museum from 1993 to 2013. When she retired she was called, “inspirational, insightful, a keen politician, a cultural warrior” and “the grand dame of our arts community.” Mary Sue started working at the Museum in 1975 as supervisor in the public relations office, appearing…
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Mariazinha (Maria) Coutinho
c. 1946- Maria Coutunho was born in Portugal and settled in Newark in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, her and her husband established Coutinho’s Bakery, which spread to multiple storefronts in Newark and Harrison. A 1995 profile stated she supervised every cake before it left Newark and sat down with every client. The bakery…
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Sister Mary Walter Dwyer
1929 – 2022 Sister Mary Dwyer was principal of Saint Columba School in Newark, in one of the poorest sections of Newark and with Deborah Humphreys, she was a driving force in the Saint Columba Neighborhood Club / El Club Del Barrio. Deborah Humphreys wrote, “It was never enough for Sr. Mary to just be…
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Ruth Caldwell Lynn
1902-1964 Ruth Lynn was the only woman member of Newark’s Charter Study Commissioner in 1953, after being heavily involved in the Newark Citizen’s Committee on Municipal Government as vice chairman and acting chairman, advocating for a change in Newark’s government. She said, “I personally believe that Newark does not have the best form of municipal…
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Enid Bell Palanchian
1904-1994 Enid Bell was a Scottish-born artist and sculptor. She was sometimes called “Handy Andy” due to her various experiments in art. After marrying Missak Palanchian in New York in 1932, she moved to Newark to 21 Myrtle Ave. In 1933, she won the Sculpture Medal from the Newark Art Club. In 1934, she completed…
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Rosalind Lubetsky Bressler
1936-2001 Rosalind Bressler was the first woman to be corporation counsel (the chief attorney) for the City of Newark, when she was sworn in, Oct 1984. Previously she’d been assistant corporation counsel from 1975. As assistant corporation counsel she focused on labor and employment issues, and contracts, and also worked with many different departments in…
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Estelle Morris
1881-1979 Estelle Morris was a civic activist and women’s club leader, active in the NJ Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, Sojourner Truth branch of the YWCA, Newark Community Chest and many other organizations. Mother of Mildred Morris Williams and Irene Morris. Estelle was Regional President of Northwest Region in the NJ State Federation of Colored…
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Anna W. Hilton Monroe
1878-1973 Anna Monroe was active in Black social and civic organizations in Newark for many years. She was a founding member of the Urban League, president of the Newark Branch of the NAACP, and financial chairman for the Sojourner Truth Branch of the YWCA and the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Price’s Freedom…