1915-2007
Union leader and activist for nearly 35 years. During most of her union work from the 1950s to 1970s she is listed as being a Newark resident.
Born in Virginia as Mary Graves, she moved to Orange after her marriage. Working at the Orange Domestic Laundry, she joined AFL 284, where she became a shop steward and led the fight for better working conditions.
In 1954, she began work in Newark at Kuthe Laboratories where she successfully organized the International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers and was elected President. She also headed the grievance committee, was chief negotiator, and was a member of the Board for the district.
In 1963, after Kuthe was sold, she went to work for the IUE as Civil rights Director for District 3. In Sept 1966, she was voted Exec Vice President for the NJ Industrial Council, the first Black person and the first woman to have such a high title. She kept this role through the 1970s.
In 1969, she helped head the women’s division of campaign for George Richardson for Newark Mayor along with Hilda Hidalgo and Estelle Greenberg. By this year, she was co-chairman of the Essex County New Democratic Coalition.
In 1971, she hosted a conference on opportunities for women in labor and in 1977 she was a delegate to the National Women’s Convention.
She retired from active union involvement in 1977.
Outside the Union, she was President and Founder of Black Women United. She also worked with the North Jersey Community Union and Tri City People’s Organization for Progress.
Bibliography
- Mae Eberhardt Interview Transcript, 1976-1981 OH-31. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
- Trade union women oral history project: 1978-1979 85223 Bimu C542 2. Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
- Photo here from Harvard
- Cummings, Charles The List of Firsts: African-Americans Who Pioneered the Way
- “Double First” Star Ledger Sept 28, 1966
- Census records
- “New Southern Leader” March 23, 1969 Star Ledger
- Slattery, William “Women mobilize to draft Richardson for Mayor” Star Ledger Jul 13, 1969
- “Coalition panel urges Meyner” Star Ledger Oct 17, 1969
- Gallagher, “Unions note little progress with sex bias” Sept 20, 1971
- Lamendola, Linda “Delegate ready…” Star Ledger Nov 17, 1977
- “Promoting Projects” Star Ledger Dec 10, 1978
- “Mary E. Eberhardt, Union Organizer, 91” Star Ledger Mar 15, 2007