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Ruth Crumpton Dargan
1921-2010 Ruth Dargan became a Newark policewoman in 1949, in the second class of women. She was the first Newark woman detective, with her partner. Ruth was chosen for the Homicide Squad and sent to Quantico for advanced criminal investigation. She was the only woman chosen to initiate the Sex Crimes Unit during her tenure.…
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Florence Peshine Eagleton
1870-1953 Florence Eagleton was active in suffrage and a civic leader in NJ. She was a lifelong Newark resident. Florence Peshine Eagleton a suffragist who was was vice President of the NJ Suffrage Association and president of the Woman’s Political Union. She was a founder of the New Jersey League of Woman Voters. Florence was…
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Armita Harris Douglas
1874-1958 Armita Douglas was active in the suffrage movement and a civic leader in Newark, advocating for Black women to become more politically active. She said in 1923, ” “the best mother is not the mother who stays at home all the time and gets a flower once a year…there are girls outside our own home…
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Elizabeth Miele
1898-1975? Elizabeth Miele was an early law school graduate, journalist and playwright. Elizabeth Miele was a newspaper reporter for the Newark Ledger, publisher of The Civic Pilot. She organized the Club Service Publishing Company, an advertising syndicate for women’s club publications. Elizabeth was a 1921 graduate of New Jersey Law School, an early woman lawyer.…
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Majorie M Sweet
1892-1963 The Sunday Call claimed Marjorie Sweet was the first licensed woman automobile driver in NJ. She became a car saleswoman at a young age in Perth Amboy. She graduated business school and became a secretary but soon became an automobile statistician with the Standard Oil Company. Later, Marjorie she became head of the Research…
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Dorothy Palmer
c. 1893-1984 Dorothy Palmer operated the Dorothy Palmer School of dancing on Broadway in Newark for more than 50 years. She retired in 1963. Born in Newark, Dorothy attended Barringer High. She was member of the Dance Masters of America. She began teaching students at age 13 when she was at Elliot Street School. Bibliography…
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Laquetta C Nelson
1955- Advocate for gay and lesbian rights. Co-founder of the Newark Pride Alliance. Awarded the 2004 Community Service Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Founder of the NJ Stonewall Democrats. Bibliography Queer Newark “Awards Honor Unsung Heroes and Future Leaders” Star Ledger Apr 21, 2005 The Advocate “In a Progressive State Where…
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Janyce Jackson Jones
1951- Janyce Jackson Jones was co-Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church located in Newark, NJ. Prior to UFC, she served as Pastor of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church for which she was a founding member in 1995. Janyce was executive Director of the Liberation in Truth Social Justice Center, which provided support, groups, education and…
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Eleanor E Hamilton (Kingsley)
1882-1956 Eleanor E Hamilton was superintendent and director of Presbyterian Hospital in Newark from at least 1927-1947. She was named Outstanding Woman of Year in Essex County in 1947. She was president of the NJ Hospital Association in 1937. Eleanor was as previously director of the Illinois Training School for Nurses and Superintendent of Miami…
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Grace L Boynton Gregory
1919-2007 Grace Gregory owned Poro Beauty Shop on West Market in the 1940s-1950s. She was also a certified Notary Public. In 1983, she founded “Guiding Light Inc.” (originally Caring and Sharing) a tutoring and counseling agency. She said “We want to help people develop a ‘road of life’ plan…We want to help the children and…