-
Sylvia Guarino
26 Dec 1945- Sylvia Guarino was the first woman deputy mayor in Newark, appointed by Mayor James in 1986. The full time position paid $28300 and the purpose was to “serve as a conduit between the government and its citizens” and “assist the day-to-day operation”. She envisioned improving quality of life, working with the community and…
-
Melba Moore
1945 (1940-1942*) – Melba Moore is a Tony award winning, Grammy nominated singer who had many top hits in the 1970s and 1980s. Melba Moore was born Beatrice Melba Smith, in New York. When she was 9, her mother married Newark jazz pianist Clem Moorman and she moved to Newark. The family lived at 283…
-
Mary Cartin Kelley Howard
1889-1951 Mary Howard was a pioneer in the Marines, one of the first three women to be enlisted nationally, and first in Newark. She did general office work in the Marine Corps offices in Washington DC, assigned to the Publicity Bureau. In Nov 1918, she was part of an official visit to Quantico and, later,…
-
Alice W. Kendall
c. 1885-1959 Alice Kendall worked at the Newark Museum as an assistant to Beatrice Winser and John Cotton Dana from 1911-1949. She served two years as director of the museum from 1947-1949, preceded Katherine Coffey, and previously served as a curator and assistant director. Alice lived on Milford Ave. She was born in Concord, Mass.…
-
Sheila D Banks
1956-1992 Sheila Banks was 2nd in the Class of 1974 at Weequahic High School. She was the first Black women to graduate from Steven’s Institute of Technology in 1978 (the school began admitting women in 1971). She received an engineering degree, with a concentration in chemical engineering. In 1974 she completed a Cornell University program…
-
Huldah Clark
1947- Huldah Clark made international news in 1961. Her family lived in the Christopher Columbus Housing Projects, with 6 children. Her father could not afford living expenses for the whole family, and also believed schools in Newark were segregated “Jim Crow schools”. When he received an offer from Nikita Khrushchev that would cover his daughter’s…
-
Gloria Del Toro
1920-2011 Gloria Del Toro was founding director of Newark Public Schools bilingual program. She was supervisor of the Chapter 1 program for English proficiency which served 5000 students and operated in 23 schools. Eugene Campbell, former superintendent stated that she pioneered bilingual and bicultural education in the district. She initiated campaigns that spurred the availability…
-
Ida Clark
1921-2006 Ida Clark was a tenant advocate and NHA Commissioner, who had a “colorful and charismatic” personality and was known as “Mother Clark”. Ida was appointed as a NHA commsioner in 1986, where she pushed education and programs for youth. She served as Chair and Vice Chair. This made her the first tenant in the…
-
Theresa David
1923-2004 Theresa S. David was the first Black teacher to be hired permanently at a High School. Previously, Black teachers were only hired on temporary status or as subs. She shows up on the results of the Civil Service test for “secondary Spanish” in the Newark News in 1947, but other sources give her start…
-
Eva A Jennings
1863-1935 Eva A Jennings was an early Black graduate of Newark High School. She went to Commerce Street School and was the first Black graduate since Malvina Sears and Elida Lowery, making her the 3rd Black graduate. Eva is shown on the Newark census in 1870 and 1880. In 1880 she lived with the family…