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Clara Zahn
1870-1953 Clara Zahn was the first woman principal of a co-ed grammar school. There were woman as primary school principals from 1855, the earliest year for which we have a report, but grammar schools were for older children. Grammar schools had a “male” and “female” department and there were women principals of the female department…
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Jennie Reich Danzis
1875 – Sept 24, 1945 Jennie Reich Danizs was the wife of Max Danzis and was one of the founders of Beth Israel Hospital, with her husband. She was President of the Beth Israel Hospital Ladie’s Guild. Sheounded the Reciprocity Club which offered self-improvement classes to immigrants. She was President of the Newark Section Council…
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Alice Condit Kirkpatrick
11 Dec 1875 – 15 Jan 1951 Alice Kirkpatrick was the first woman in Newark to head a city governing board. She was elected in 1917 as President of the Recreation Commission, after being appointed for the start of 1916 by Mayor Raymond. Alice was head of the New Jersey Vacation Committee organized in 1914:…
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Frances T (Fannie) Rosencrantz
1881-1938 Fannie Rosencrantz was called by the Evening Star the “first female dentist” in Newark. She was born in Russia and graduated the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. In 1905, she was the only woman of 47 candidates to pass New Jersey exams. She practiced at 205 Springfield Ave and later 490 Clinton and 2…
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Betty Lester
1945-2021 Betty Lester was the first African American woman Presiding Judge in Essex County and the 2nd African American female judge appointed to Superior Court of New Jersey. Betty Lester was born as Betty Joan Johnson in Pennsylvania. She attended Howard University and Rutgers Law School. After graduation she worked in Public Defenders Office. In…
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Laura Mayo Wilson
1871-1963 Laura Mayo Wilson was the first woman to graduate the New Jersey Law School, along with Lulu Kinsgsland Garrabrant (who was never admitted to the bar). New Jersey Law School became Rutgers Law School, in Newark in 1910 and was admitted to the bar as an attorney. Born in Newark, to William Wilson and…
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Elitea Bulkley Allison
c. 1913 -2007 Elitea was one of the early African Americans to work professionally at the Newark Public library after Theresa Moore. She was hired by Newark in 1938, according to Who’s Who, though the Newark News suggests 1940. By 1945, a Senior Children’s and Education Librarian, likely the first African American in this position…
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Eleta Caldwell
1945-2017 Eleta Caldwell was principal at Arts High School 1991-2003, previously Chair of Art and teacher at the school. Eleta was an artist who co-founded in the 1980s the “Black Women in Visual Perspective” Group which included Gladys Grauer. She exhibited at City Without Walls, and other galleries across the state and nation including MoMA…
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Gladyce Black Sherman
1908-1995 Gladyce Black Sherman was an artist and educator. She was a member of the faculty of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts for over 20 years, also graduated from the school. Her work was exhibited at the Newark Museum, Montclair Art Museum, Art Center of the Oranges, and in NYC. Charter member,…
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Mildred Lockett Lipscombe
1922-2025? Mildred Lipscombe was one the library’s first Black librarians (possibly the third), hired 8 years after Theresa Moore, and after Elitea Allison. After graduating Virginia Union University, and then the University of Illinois (MLIS), she became a junior librarian in 1946. In 1949, she took place in a library course on “Great Books” and…