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Audrey Harris West
Audrey Harvey Massiah Harris West 1927-2003 Audrey West worked for the Essex County Welfare Dept and then became Director of the Division of Welfare for Newark after Grace Malone, in 1969. She said, “I took this position because I wanted to get closer to the problems of Newark and that is where the real social…
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Aneatha Dames Todd
1918-1998 Aneatha Dames Todd was vital in many civic organizations, especially within UMDNJ and United Hospitals. Black Mirror News called her “a voice for Newarkers”. She said, “I just have a desire to be part of things, rather than having things given to me. It may sound old fashioned but I still believe in doing…
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Nellie Gray Grashof
c. 1843-1928 Nellie (Ellen) Gray Grashof was a singer, mezzo-soprano, who had a 75 year career. She said, at age 83, “It is music that has kept me alive.” Her death in 1928 ran on the front page of the Newark Evening News. Nellie Gray was born in North Carolina, but came to Newark early…
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Olivia Queene Brown
1882-1954 Beauty culturist since 1912, ran the Poro Beauty School on 9 Wallace Street which she opened in 1936 or 1937. On her death, the Afro American wrote how she had organized the Poro Club, training women, and allowing hundreds of women to enjoy “a comfortable living as Poro beauticians, agents and shopowners”. The Afro…
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Anna E Whittington
c. 1875-1956 African American woman who ran her own real estate agency in Newark for more than 30 years from at least 1910. Left an estate over $100,000. She went by “A E Whittington”. Member of the Priscilla Art and Literary Club and the exec committee of the North Jersey Branch of the National Negro…
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Gloria Fowles Gaynor
1943- Gloria Gayner, born Gloria Fowles in Newark, is a singer, whose biggest hit is the 1978 “I Will Survive”. Gloria lived on Howard Street and the Stella Wright Projects as a child and graduated South Side High in 1961. In 1963, she wrote a letter to the Star Ledger in tribute to President Kennedy.…
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Rose Kussy
1887-1955 Rose Kussy was president of the West Side Trust Company after the death of her husband. She was a director of the Jewish News. She was a member and secretary of the Newark Central Planning Board. Rose was appointed to the Planning Board in 1943, was Secretary of the Planning Board as early as…
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Elsa Greenwood
1893-1957 Elsa Greenwood was lifelong resident of Newark, who attended Robert Treat School. She ran the Elsa Greenwood School of Dance. When Elsa died in 1957 the Newark News claimed it was due to exhaustion from staging dance recitals, which she did frequently around the city and state. In her early career Elsa was in…
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Jessie L. Creamer Cone
1880-1965 Jessie L Creamer was one of the founders of the College Women’s Club of Essex County in 1903 and president from 1912-1913. She taught at Belleville High and later is listed as a secretary for an auto service (1920 census). She was honored by the Club in 1960 and 1963. She was also a…
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Julia Sabine
1905-1990 Julie Sabine was head of the Art and Music Department at Newark Library. She worked at the library for over 40 years. She was a specialist in rare books, printing and fine prints. At the library, Julia was editor of the Newark Library newsletter for many years and organized the Great Books program. She…