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Griselda Ellis
1870- Sept 8, 1949 Griselda Ellis considered herself “Newark born and bred”. She was appointed Principal of the Girls Vocational School in 1914 and remained so until her retirement in 1927. She said, “If I had my life to live over again I would certainly go into teaching.” Griselda helped grow the school from 40…
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Rosamond Stewart Marrow
1903-1972 Bob Queen called Rosamond (Rosamund) Stewart Marrow, “one of NJ’s most outstanding personalities over the past half century.” Rosamond founded Simplex Beauty School, which was at 126-128 West Kinney Street. She was also a founder of the Cosmetologists Guild. She was president of the Board of the Community Hospital (African American hospital, previously Kenney)…
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Adelina “Addie” McIntyre Garris
1869 – 1936 Adelia McIntyre is cited by William Ashby and the Afro American as one of the earliest African American teachers in Newark. Adelina lived at 13 Academy St and 69 Plane St. She is listed as “Mulatto” on the 1880 census and “White” on the 1895 and 1930 Censuses. She atended Commerce Street…
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Lettie Mae Mulford
1883-1970 *sometimes listed as “Lettie Mulford” or “May Mulford” Lettie Mae Mulford was a eacher in the Newark Public School System for 42 years. She was a daughter of the first African American Newark High School student Clara Mulford, and sister of nurse Eva Mulford. Lettie graduated Newark High School in 1901. In 1904, she…
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Eva Mae Mulford
c. 1884-1886 to 1944 Eva Mae Mulford was a daughter of Clara Irene Mulford and lived in family house at 41 Chestnut. Eva was an early African American nurse associated with the Newark Board of Health. She was appointed in late 1917 or early 1918, it was reported in the Jan 1918 The Crisis that…
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Anna Luella Seager
c.1887 -1957 Anna Luella Seager was Associate Supervisor of the Newark Normal School and later Associate Professor Education at New Jersey State Teacher’s College. She planned international trips for the students, specializing in taking students through Europe for study. Anna worked at the Normal School/Teacher’s College (now Kean) from 1917, until her retirement in 1950.…
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Charlotte Kroll
1872-1958 Charlotte Kroll was the owner of Domestic Art Rooms 149 Washington St., teaching china painting. She also imported and dealt in china with Mrs. Florence Nightingale Waterfield. Charlotte lived in Newark from at least 1913 until her death. She was on the Artist Committee for the 1916 Pageant of Newark. Her work was exhibited…
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(Clara) Irene Pataquam Mulford
c.1854- 1945 In 1872, Clara Pataquam was the first African American pupil to attend the Newark High School. Previously African American students attended the Colored School. Clara had to sit alone in the last seat because she wasn’t allowed to sit next to a white pupil. However, she said she was treated with “consideration” and…
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Marion Thompson Wright
1902-1962 Marion Thompson Wright was a graduate of Barringer High and the first African American woman in the US to earn a PhD in History, according to most sources. There is a Rutgers annual lecture series named in her honor. Marion wrote, “The Education of Negroes in New Jersey” and other works. Marion was one of…
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Mary Philbrook
1872-1958 Mary Philbrook was the first female attorney admitted to the bar in New Jersey. She practiced in Newark for many years. While there are several large biographies of Mary already written (see below), she was in Newark from 1899 until World War 1, and again from 1920 through the end of her life. In…