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Louise Connolly
1862-1927 Louise Connolly was longtime educational advisor to the Newark Library and Museum. She wrote many publications and trained museum apprentices. The Newark News wrote, “She made many important contributions to the problems of education…She was considered to be an inspiring teacher, a remarkable organizer of though, a writer and speaker of extraordinary facility and…
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Wilma Jackson Grey
1945- Wilma Grey was the first African American woman to be the director of Newark Public Library, from 2005-2015. She was an employee of the Newark Public Library for 46 years. Wilma grew up in Newark, near the library’s Roseville branch where she enjoyed reading Nancy Drew. She graduated Arts High School in 1962, as…
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Dr. Mildred Gregory
1894-1975 Dr. Mildred Gregory practiced pediatrics in Newark and was Medical Director of Babies’ Hospital from 1949-1957. She was one of the first woman diplomates on the American Board of Pediatrics. Mildred was raised in Newark, living at 21 Roseville Ave. Mildred graduated Barringer in Jan 1912, Wellesley College and taught at Skidmore College until…
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Barbara George
c. 1953-2000 Barbara George was the first woman and first African American woman police captain. Sharpe James called her a “trailblazer, role model and…hero”. Barbara was the sister of Gigi Foushee, who also served with the police, one of 7 children. After graduating Weequahic in 1970 and Bloomfield College, she taught science. Barbara joined the…
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Margaret Coult
c. 1859 -1930 Margaret Coult was head of the English department for the Newark high school system and a teacher at Barringer for many years. She was a trustee of the library and museum and author of several books on education. She was the sister and daughter of Eliza and Frances Coult. The Newark News…
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Margaretta T Craven
c. 1853-1935 Margaretta Craven founded Miss Craven’s School in Newark, which she opened in Spring 1875 and ran until 1915. When Margaretta retired in 1915, the school was taken over by Mrs. William Lamont. Mrs. Lamont acquired Prospect Hill School in 1918 and merged the schools to form Prospect Hill Country Day School which was…
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Anna F Whitmore
1848-May 22, 1934 Anna F. Whitmore was the founder of girls school: the Newark Seminary and principal for 47 years. Anna founded the school in 1881 at 27 Hill Street as “Miss Whitmore’s English and French Day School”. Five years later she moved to 993 Broad and then 174 Clinton Avenue in 1901. In 1926,…
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Dr. Eleanor (Ella) Haines
c. 1845 – 1924 Dr. Eleanor Haines was the first woman admitted to the Essex County Medical Society, a branch of the Medical Society of NJ in 1876; the second woman admitted in the State, though she is often listed as the first. Eleanor practiced in Newark for over 50 years, one of the first…
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Sara A. Fawcett
1846-1899 Sara Fawcett was the first supervisor of drawing in Newark. She had a “strong personality which was a combination of the clean-cut principles of her Puritan ancestors and a breadth of mind, clear vision and great tolerance”. Fawcett School was named in her honor. Students there in 1927 wrote, “She laid a firm and…
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Trish Morris-Yamba
1944*-2019 Trish Morris-Yamba was recognized as a visionary in the field of early childhood education, founding the CHEN school and working as director of the Newark Day Center for 32 years. Trish Morris-Yamba was born in New York and attended Rutgers Livingston College. By 1973, she was founding director of the CHEN school for preschool…