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Jane E. Johnson
c. 1834-Feb 1907 First principal of the Normal School, for teacher training, in 1879, starting the school with 30 students. She remained with the school for 21 years, later becoming Vice Principal when it merged with the Training School. She taught, “psychology, science, history of education, mental philosophy and pedagogy”. After leaving the school, she…
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Sarah Ward
Feb 1833 – Feb 16, 1907 Namesake of the Sarah Ward Day Nursery, which has been in operation since 1892. The story states that she began caring for several children and soon had dozens in her care. The property at 27 Jay Street, where it still stands today, was donated soon after by Sarah Wallace.…
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Lem See Wong
1880-? Mrs. Willie Hong, was called “the only Chinese woman in the city” in 1909 and “the only woman in Chinatown” in 1911. The Star Eagle wrote, “She is very nice indeed. Mrs. Theresa E. Burnett…visits her every week and teachers her the English language and Christian principles.” Willie Hong was sometimes called the “mayor”…
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Corrina Pitters Kay-Williams
1924-1994 Corrina Kay-Williams was born to Jamaican parents in East Orange. She served as an Essex County freeholder, East Orange councilwomen and educator in Newark, retiring as Vice Principal of Central High. “She left a legacy that was very hard to fill”, said the Freeholder President Sarah Bost. “You looked up to people like her,”…
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Rosa L Sears Scudder
c. 1852 – 28 Jan 1930 Rosa Sears was the mother of Clara Scudder, piano prodigy. She taught in the Colored School with James Baxter from at least 1870 until her marriage to David Scudder in 1873 and is still listed under her maiden name as a teacher in the 1874 city directory. Rosa and…
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Julia A. Mason Voorhees
c. 1867-May 4, 1915 Only student from the Colored School to test into the High School in 1881 with an 82.7%, higher than many other students. When she graduated in 1884, the Newark News wrote, “among them was a young colored girl Julia A Mason who was highly applauded as the diploma was handed to…
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Clara Woodward Greene
c. 1846 – Jan 31, 1904 Born about 1846 in New England, Clara W. Greene was vice principal of Newark High School (now Barringer), or Principal/Head of the Female Department, for 25 years, which was only integrated into the Male Department around 1899. According to her obituary, she revolutionized the curriculum of the High School,…
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Eliza A. Chase
c. 1829-2 Jan 1880 First principal of the Female Department of Newark High School in 1855. The 1938 Barringer yearbook wrote, “an inspiration to all her students when high school and college education for women was in its infancy”. She had poetry and short stories published, including in the Daily Advertiser. Reichle writes, “Eliza A.…
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Rose S. Ray Moryck
c. 1858 -1942 Mother of Brenda Moryck. One of the first colored teachers and principals in NJ, according to her obituary in the New York Age (She hasn’t been found in the Board of Education Reports for Newark, so where Rose taught is a mystery with research in progress). She married John Moryck, a saloon…
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Fanny Tuell (Faye Adams, Scruggs, Jones)
1923-2016? Pioneering R&B singer who had several chart-topping hits in the 1950s, including 1953 hit “Shake a Hand”. Active from the 1940s-1960s. Born in Newark as Fanny Tuell and lived at 588 North 11th Street through at least 1950 when she was married to Thomas Scruggs. She performed Gospel / religious music in Newark with…