1900-1971
Miss Pauline Puryear was a social worker in Newark for many years. She’s famous nationally for being the 4th international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha and Dean of Women at Florida State A&M College.
The 1930 census lists her as working for the NJ Urban League which was based in Newark. In 1939, there was a controversy. Pauline was working for the city as a social worker when her husband made a speech on the radio advocating for a new form of city government. She believed she was fired because of her husband’s speech, but her court case was denied.
During the 1940s she lived on Badger Ave. in Newark. She was listed as a social worker and wrote for The Christian Recorder. By 1958 she was living in Virginia.
She was an active member of the National Association of College Women, NJ Council of Church Women (regional VP), State Association of Federated Womens Club and NAACP.
Bibliography
Census records
Alabama Tribune, Aug 29, 1958
“Mount Zion AME Plans Lincoln Fete” Courier News Feb 14, 1955
Newark News File: