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Theresa Kraker Guthrie
c. 1889-1959 Theresa Guthrie lived in Newark from at least 1910. She was the founder of the Chronically Ill Service of Essex County. She was also a board member of the Essex County Tuberculosis League and county representative on the board of the NJ Tuberculosis Association. Theresa served at base hospitals in France during WWI.…
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Bertell Collins Wright
1908-1993 Bertell Collins Weight was resident of the Essex County Tuberculosis League, based in Newark at 42 Park Place. She was sometimes called “Director of Negro Health Work” or “Executive Secretary”. Bertell worked there from 1938-1958. She lived at 69 Somerset St in Newark from at least 1935 (likely from her marriage in 1934), until…
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Frances “Fannie” Traphegen Rippel
1860-1943 Frances Rippel was president of the Home for Aged and Respectable Women from 1929-1934, and a longterm board member and volunteer. Frances was president of the Heidelberg Guild of the First Reformed Church. She was also active in the Newark Museum, NJ Historical Society and Daughters of the American Revolution. She worked for the…
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Lydia Young Hayes
1871-1943 Lydia Young Hayes was the first director of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind which had offices in Newark at 14 James St (now Audible). She became director in 1910 and served until 1937, when she served as a consultant until her retirement in 1942. As director she organized home teaching, workshops, and…
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Margaret Douglas Haines
1884-1966 Margaret Haines was a lifelong resident of Newark. She was a member of the General Assembly from 1949-1953, taught at Garfield and Avon Ave Schools, was a canteen worker and ambulance driver in WWI and a Signal corps driver and USO Organizer in Newark in WWII. The Newark News called her “the antithesis of…
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Mariana Higbie Barker
1880- April 24, 1967 President of the Board of Babies Hospital, Mariana was a founder or very early member of the Babies Hospital Guild, and quickly became President. In that capacity she helped plan children’s diets, and with purchasing, hiring and firing for the hospital. She also advocated for clean milk laws. She received a…
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Myrtle C. Williams
1900- 1957 Myrtle C Williams grew up in Newark on Chestnut St. She was the first “colored girl” to finish a 4 year commercial course in 1919 when she graduated East Side High and played a piano solo at the graduation. Myrtle entered Columbia University. In 1921 she was appointed stenographer for the Mayor’s Department.…
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Stella Windsor Wright
1887-1932 Stella Wright was a social worker from North Carolina who helped establish the Friendly Neighborhood House with Gladys Churchman and Louise Shugard, and was director of activities at the House, and help attract donors like Louis Bamberger. She also helped to establish a Girls Club, as well as recreation centers at the Belmont Ave…
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Dr. Eva Topkins Brodkin
1899-1994 Dr. Eva Brodkin was the first female board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey. She practiced in Newark from 1927 to 1977 and was also chief of dermatology at St. Barnabas Newark in the 1960s. Eva said being a doctor was, “the only thing I wanted to be.” “I always wanted to be a doctor, never…
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Clara McGuire Dasher
1930-1995 Clara Dasher was President of the Essex County College Board of Trustees and a longtime active member and leader of the Newark Teacher’s Union. Clara was a teacher from 1959-1973. She was an assistant to Carole Graves and Vice President, who took over leadership of the Teachers Union while Carole was in jail for…