1876-1958
The Star Ledger wrote “A tiny woman bubbling with good cheer Mrs. Osborne had become a familiar figure in almost every important civic enterprise since the 20s”. She said, “I love Newark, I remember Newark when you would greet everybody in town when you went out marketing. It’s very changed today”.
Lydia was very active in community affairs: President and Board Member of the Family Service Bureau, President of the 8th Ward Women’s Republican Club and active at the state level, Honorary President of the Salvation Army Auxiliary and member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, on the Executive Committee of the Welfare Federation, Chairman of the Home Nursing Service of the Red Cross, Chairman of the Presbyterian Hospital School for Nursing, and representative on the Advisory Council to Home Economics Extension Service of the State Department of Agriculture.
Lydia served from 1925-1934 on the Newark Board of Education, appointed by Thomas Raymond. She was a appointed by Governor A Harry Moore as representative to National Recreation Association Convention in 1934.
Lydia was vice president of the State Federation of Women’s Club. She headed a movement in 1929 to beautify state highways organizing a petition to the Highway Commission, which got her a membership in the American Civic Association. This included a petition for tree planting along New Jersey’s roads.
In 1932, she battled for better housing in the Third Ward and prevention of crime, proposing action by women’s clubs.
Lydia was chairman of a 1942 Newark Defense Council meeting to assess the city’s health and welfare.
She was also Chairman of the Newark Civilian Defense Volunteer Office, which completed over 45,000 home front assignments.
In 1949 Lydia became Chairman (or President) of the YWCA’s Board of Trustees where she helped raise funds for a new building, an effort that was called “miraculous.”
Born in Brooklyn, Lydia came to Newark at age 6 and attended Miss Grave’s School, Newark High School and Wellesley College from at least 1893-1895.
Lydia was one of the first members of the Contemporary Club and President in 1923. She married a well-known writer. She lived at 311 Mount Prospect Ave at the time of her death.
Bibliography
Scott, George. “Mrs. William Hamilton Osborne Worked Miracles For the Good of the City” Star Ledger April 13, 1958
“Mrs. Wm. H. Osborne” Newark News April 9, 1958
Cummings, Charles F. “Meet the exemplary women who enriched the city” Star Ledger Jun 6, 2002.
Lester Elenore. “Women of the Week: New YW Helsman Old Hand at Tiller” Star Ledger Feb 27, 1949.
William Hamilton Osborne Papers NJ Historical Society https://jerseyhistory.org/manuscript-group-1137-william-hamilton-osborne-1873-1942-author-lawyer-papers-1902-1937/
“Osborne, William Hamilton Mrs.” Newark News Morgue 69 articles, Newark Library
“In Many Colleges” Newark Sunday Call Apr 9, 1895
“The Schools in June” Newark Sunday Call Jun 11, 1893