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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…
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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…