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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…
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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…