-
Elizabeth “Betty” Hoyt Baker Henderson
1912-1999 Elizabeth Henderson, with her husband Dorland, bought and preserved, Newark’s oldest private residence: the Sydenham House. In the house, they lived as in colonial times in many ways, she wove cloth and grew her own vegetables. The couple threw an annual Christmas party and gala Spring party. The Hendersons bought the house in the…
-
Elizabeth “Liz” Del Tufo
1933- Elizabeth Del Tufo was head of the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee, retiring in 2025, after helping preserve many buildings and historic sites. She is a Newark historian, who for many years was known for her tours of Newark. In 1980, she was first director of Cultural Affairs for Essex County, and a founder…
-
Elizabeth Blume-Silverstein
1892-1991 Eliabeth Blume-Silverstein was born in Newark. She graduated the New Jersey Law School in Newark in 1911 (just a year after the first woman graduate Laura Mayo Wilson), but could not practice until she turned 21. In 1913, she was admitted to the Bar as an attorney and in 1917 as a counselor. Elizabeth…
-
Elizabeth Hardin Goss
1895-1953 Elizabeth Hardin Goss graduated Miss Townsend’s School in Newark and then went to Vassar where she broke the world record in shot put, as well as the basketball and baseball throw. Her shot put record would have won the gold medal at the Amateur Athletic Union championships in 1923-1925 and the 1932 Olympics! After…
-
Elizabeth Nelligan Hughes
1870 – 1953 Elizabeth Hughes was President of the Police Matron’s Benevolent Association and Matron of the 4th Precinct Station. Though she was a “matron” the newspaper sometimes referred to her as a “policewoman”. Like many matrons in other cities, she was a working class widow, by 1900 at age 29 she was a police…
-
Elizabeth Swain(e) Ogden
1645-1706 In 1666, settlers from CT settled Newark. Elizaeth is said to be the first of the 1666 Newark landing party to step foot on Newark soil. Historian Urquhart believes she was first of the Branford group. Atkinson writes, “so that women’s proper rights to positions of honor and distinction in Newark are not the…
-
Ella Van Steenburgh
c. 1871 – 1958 Ella Van Steenburgh was a registered nurse, who ran a successful Nurse’s Home and registry business for over 40 years. In 1906, Ella graduated from Newark City Hospital School of Nursing: Class Photo here from Newark Library. She began working a hospital nurse, however, in 1908 she acquired spinal meningitis and…
-
Ella Wright Moncur
1919-1999 Ella Moncur was born in Newark, lived in NYC in 1930. She was the wife of jazz artist and owned the Theatrical Beauty Salon in Newark, and also a salon called Monte’s Powder Puff. Ella later retired to Florida and taught there, her going away party featured in New York Age. She also was…
-
Ellen C. King
c. 1839-1936 Ellen C. King was the daughter of Mary Thompson King and sister of Harriet King Brown and Marcia King Stillwell. She was born at 70 Warren Street and lived there most of her life. She lived to age 97. Ellen went to North Carolina after the Civil War to help establish a school…
-
Elsa Greenwood
1893-1957 Elsa Greenwood was lifelong resident of Newark, who attended Robert Treat School. She ran the Elsa Greenwood School of Dance. When Elsa died in 1957 the Newark News claimed it was due to exhaustion from staging dance recitals, which she did frequently around the city and state. In her early career Elsa was in…
-
Elsa Rehmann
1886-1946 Elma Rehmann was the sister of Antoinette Perrett. Elsa was a famed landscape architect, who has a large biography linked below from the Cultural Landscape Foundation. The Sunday Call called her “one of the most successful women in her profession.” Elsa worked planning gardens saying, “The results of my work are most satisfying but…
-
Elsie Reed Eatman
1930-2014 Elsie Reed Eatman was a community activist, involved in various protests and strikes, especially for housing. Much of Elsie’s work focused around Housing and Pennington Court. She was the first president of the Pennington Court Tenants Association and vice president of the Newark Tenants Council. She co-wrote a history of Pennington Court with Walter…
-
Elvira Rodrigues
1918-1985 Elvira Rodrigues (left) co-owned Dan’s Friendly Services in Newark with her husband (oil). She was of the East Side High School advisory board and Newark Library board of trustees, as well as the Ironbound Senior Citizens Club and St. Jame’s Hospital Auxiliary .She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968. Elvira…
-
Emily B Thomas
1870-1924 Emily B Thomas was an assistant teacher to James Baxter at the Colored School from at least 1888. She pent most of her teaching career at Commerce Street School and was a member of the Phyllis Wheatly Society. Emily was appointed a delegate to the National Congress of Colored Educators, by the Governor, in…
-
Emily Rollins Miles
1910-1999 Emily Miles was a fashion designer. Known for her hats and for frequent fashion shows in Newark. Born Emma Rollins in Tennessee, she graduated Central High in Aug 1929 and Howard University, and various fashion schools. In 1952, she won the Paper Dress Ball sponsored by the Newark NAACP. After graduating from school in…
-
Emma Holman Coleman
1864-1935 Emma Coleman ran and served as President of Coleman National Business College, at Academy and Halsey, in Newark after the death of her husband in 1903. She worked to adapt the school to the 20th century including expanding shorthand and practical offerings. Born in Poughkeepsie, as Emma Holman, Emma was the second wife of…
-
Emma Oschwald Egge
c. 1883-1960 Born in Newark, Emma was first woman to graduate the NJ College of Pharmacy in Newark, along with Esther Newman who died a few months later of appendicitis. In 1905, Emma passed exams to receive her license to practice. Emma was a pharmacist for Newark City Hospital for over 25 years. She helped…
-
Emma Ward Edwards
1845-1896 Emma Ward Edwards was one of the first woman doctors in New Jersey. She ran a large general practice in Newark, also practicing at the Home of the Aged, and around Newark. Newark News wrote she was “to many households the beloved physician, the sympathizing helpful friend who spared herself no labor to reduce…
-
Enid Bell Palanchian
1904-1994 Enid Bell was a Scottish-born artist and sculptor. She was sometimes called “Handy Andy” due to her various experiments in art. After marrying Missak Palanchian in New York in 1932, she moved to Newark to 21 Myrtle Ave. In 1933, she won the Sculpture Medal from the Newark Art Club. In 1934, she completed…
-
Estelle Stuckelman Greenberg
1933- Estelle Greenberg was an activist in Newark in the 1960s. Among other roles she was: chairman of Essex County Concerned Democrats, ran the Freedom Democratic Party in Newark and was a leader in the South Ward Independent Voters League. Estelle and her husband Gerald lives at 17 Porter Ave in Weequahic. Some of her…
-
Esther Edwards Burr
1732-1758 Esther Edwards Burr was the mother of 3rd Vice President Aaron Burr Jr. Stephanie Ernst writes, “Burr’s writings reflect her intelligence and strength, as demonstrated by her spirited defense of women’s engagement in intellectual discourse.” Esther married Aaron Burr Sr., pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Newark and founder of Princeton University (then the…
-
Esther R Newman
c. 1883 – 1901 Esther Newman was the first woman graduate of the NJ College of Pharmacy along with Emma Egge. She graduated in April and died in August due to appendicitis after an operation. She was listed as a prize winner at the graduation, graduating with high honors and had been appointed Chief Pharmacist…
-
Estrella Alonso Martinez
1924-1998 Estrella Martinez, with her husband Antonio, founded a Spanish restaurant, Spanish Tavern, in the Ironbound on McWhorter Street in 1963. This may have been the first Spanish restaurant in the area. Later they founded the Spanish Pavillion in Harrison. Estrella was a member of the Centro-Orensano Club. Estrella was a lifelong Newark resident, the…
-
Etta Fallon
1880-1960 Etta Fallon was the first women policewoman with Margaret Dugan and Justina Eller in 1918 and they were the only woman officers for many years. She promoted to Sergeant in 1943 with Dugan, retiring in 1948 as the only woman on the force, as the other two women had died. She was assigned for…
-
Eugenia “Jeanne/Jean” (Byrd) Dawkins
c. 1926-1978 Eugenia Dawkins owned the Key Club, one of Newark’s most famous jazz clubs, with her husband. She ran the club after her husband died In 1976 she was named Newark’s Woman of the Year and received a Key to the City. In 1977, she organized the “Newark Salutes Jazz” festival. Eugenia was a…
-
Eurlee Wright Reeves
Feb 19, 1897 – Feb 1, 1990 Eurlee Reeves (center) was Newark’s only female night club owner in the Swing Era. She founded the Nest Club on Warren St which was a major Black nightclub offering full musical revues in the 1930s and 1940s. She bought the Cabin LaBlanche in 1937 and renamed it. Big…
-
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…
-
Eva Hodgson
1924-2020 Eva Hodgson was an internationally known Bermudian activist, union leader and author (read more here). However, she had an important Newark connection and was in Newark for a significant time period. In 1969, during the first years of Essex County College Ms. Hodgson was coordinator of Black Studies. Essex County was the first public…
-
Eva Mae Mulford
c. 1884-1886 to 1944 Eva Mae Mulford was a daughter of Clara Irene Mulford and lived in family house at 41 Chestnut. Eva was an early African American nurse associated with the Newark Board of Health. She was appointed in late 1917 or early 1918, it was reported in the Jan 1918 The Crisis that…
-
Evelyn Silverstein Simpson
1931-2021 Newark space planner, interior designer, teacher and potter. Graduate of Weequahic High School and Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art. Lived on Renner Ave during highschool. She tudied ceramics at the Newark Museum, among other places, and studied at Edison State College, Pratt Institute and Parsons with concentrations in architecture, planning, and design.…
-
Fannie W Sweasy Smith
c. 1851 – 1923 Fannie W Smith was the only Newark women to attend the International Congress for Women in 1915, representing the New Jersey branch of the Woman’s Peace Party. Fannie also served as Vice Principal of Newton Street School, teaching in Newark for 40 years. Her sister Augusta was Vice Principal of Lincoln…
-
Fanny Tuell (Faye Adams, Scruggs, Jones)
1923-2016? Fanny Tuell was a pioneering R&B singer who had several chart-topping hits in the 1950s, including 1953 hit “Shake a Hand”. She was active from the 1940s-1960s. In 1953, the New York Age calls her, “one of the most sensational new recording stars to come along in many a year.” In 1962, she was…
-
Flora Freeman
c. 1753-1856 When Flora Freeman died in 1856 at 102 or 103 the Centinel of Freedom called her “a venerable colored woman” and “an interesting representative of her people of the past generation”. The Centinel wrote Flora, “often entertained her guests with the recital of many thrilling incidents which occurred during the American Revolutions”. Flora…
-
Florence Haines
1869-1955 Florence Haines secretary of the New Jersey Women’s Political Union, a charter Member of the Newark League of Women Voters, and one of New Jersey’s first woman Assembly representative from 1926-1931, one of the first two sisters in the General Assembly with her sister Margaret. Bills she championed in the Assembly included better rehabilitation…
-
Frances and Eliza Coult
1836-1935, 1866-1935 Frances and Eliza Coult were a mother and daughter who died within 24 hours of each out in 1935. They were the mother and sister of Margaret Coult and wife and daughter of Joseph Coult, Newark counsel. The family lived in Woodside and then at 58 Mount Pleasant Ave. Frances lived to be…
-
Frances T (Fannie) Rosencrantz
1881-1938 Fannie Rosencrantz was called by the Evening Star the “first female dentist” in Newark. She was born in Russia and graduated the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. In 1905, she was the only woman of 47 candidates to pass New Jersey exams. She practiced at 205 Springfield Ave and later 490 Clinton and 2…
-
Geneva Streeter
1943- Geneva Streeter (Wardell, Campbell) was the first Black “Queen of Rutgers-Newark” campus and her modeling career at Rutgers put her in national magazines. After college, she became a Newark teacher and principal for many years. Geneva Streeter grew up in Newark living at 156 Livingston St in 1950. She graduated West Side High, class…
-
Geneva, Helena and Gertrude Turman
The three Turman sisters performed with their brother Buddy in nighclubs around Newark and New York. Gertrude Turman performed in Newark nightclubs as a “shake dancer”. Helena also specialized in dance. Geneva Turman was a popular soloist. They lived on Chester Ave in Newark as children. Helena Turman 1914-1970 Besides family performances, danced in shows…
-
Geraldine “GiGi” Foushee
1947-1997 GiGi Foushee was a Newark police officer, county detective, first woman head of Newark’s ABC department, deputy mayor & first woman warden of Essex County Jail. She said, “I love Newark, it’s my home. I understand this city, it’s me.” Charles Cummings wrote, “In a few months short of 50 yrs she accomplished more…
-
Gladyce Black Sherman
1908-1995 Gladyce Black Sherman was an artist and educator. She was a member of the faculty of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts for over 20 years, also graduated from the school. Her work was exhibited at the Newark Museum, Montclair Art Museum, Art Center of the Oranges, and in NYC. Charter member,…
-
Gladys Barker Grauer
1923-2019 Gladys Grauer was a Newark artist called “Newark’s matriarch of the arts”, who launched the Aard Studio Gallery in Newark in 1971, on Bergen Street. She also was a commercial art teacher in the Vo-Tech schools for 15 years. Her work has been displayed locally and nationally. Gladys also ran for office with the…
-
Gladys Berry Francis
c. 1911-1993 Gladys Francis was director of Elementary Education for the Newark Public Schools from 1967-1978. Gladys previously taught at Charlton Street School and South 8th Street School and was Vice Principal at South 8th Street, Oliver Street and Bragaw Avenue Schools. She started teaching in 1936. Gladys was a member of the Phillis Wheatley…
-
Gladys Hillman-Jones
1938-1998 Gladys Hillman-Jones worked 32 years as a teacher and administrator for the Newark Public Schools, becoming deputy superintendent. In her eulogy, Rev. James Scott said, “if Gladys left no other legacy it was that she told us in so many countless ways that we can make a difference”, and stated that she had a…
-
Gloria Fowles Gaynor
1943- Gloria Gayner, born Gloria Fowles in Newark, is a singer, whose biggest hit is the 1978 “I Will Survive”. Gloria lived on Howard Street and the Stella Wright Projects as a child and graduated South Side High in 1961. In 1963, she wrote a letter to the Star Ledger in tribute to President Kennedy.…
-
Gloria Jones Swieringa
1938- In 1956, Gloria Jones was believed to be the first blind student ever elected to the National Honor Society, while she was at Barringer High School. She was an A student and also involved in many clubs and planned to go to Boston University. She said, “I do not believe I could do anything…
-
Gloria Waldron Butler
1931 – 1998 Gloria Butler was a political activist in the Central Ward. She became involved in local politics in the 1950s from friendships with Irvine Turner and Timothy Still, among others. She was a Democratic committeewoman and district leader, for many years in Hayes Home and “a fixture at the polls, working tirelessly to…
-
Golden E. Johnson
1944-2010 Golden Johnson was the first Black woman to serve as a Newark municipal court judge. Her obituary called her “a trailblazer for African American women lawyers in NJ.” She was appointed a judge by Gibson in 1974, at only 30 years old. She said, “I look forward to serving the people of Newark to…
-
Grace Murphy
1882-1966 Grace Murphy (born Mary Grace Murphy) founded Murphy Funeral Home on Roseville Avenue and operated it until her death for 26 years. Her obituary listed her as one of “the few women morticians in New Jersey” and “one of few women in business”. Grace was active in Catholic organizations, including former President of the…
-
Grace Oliver Duryee
c. 1874 – 1945 Grace Duryee headed the East Side Day Nursery for 31 years. She worked closely with philanthropist Louise Shugard. The Newark News wrote she “has been mother and grandmother to two generations of Newark’s children from all parts of the city”. Louise Shugard said, “she is the most faithful soul I’ve ever…
-
Griselda Ellis
1870- Sept 8, 1949 Griselda Ellis considered herself “Newark born and bred”. She was appointed Principal of the Girls Vocational School in 1914 and remained so until her retirement in 1927. She said, “If I had my life to live over again I would certainly go into teaching.” Griselda helped grow the school from 40…
-
H. Blanche Harris
1878-1956 (Thanks to George Robb who did much research on Harris, his full biographer is linked below.). Blanche Harris was active in the suffrage movement in Newark. Her obituary said she was a “member of one Newark’s first Negro families and active many years in community affairs” and “a pioneer in the Newark NAACP branch…
-
Hamilton Family
Laura Bland Hamilton 1853-1952 Laura Hamilton was born into slavery in VA. She came to Newark after the Civil War with her sister and married Frederick Hamilton. Founder of Bethany Baptist Church. She organized a factory making baby clothes in her home which she ran for 18 years. Her husband also had an automobile exchange…
-
Harriet A. King Brown
c.1850-1912 The New York Age called Harriet King Brown “an energetic woman and a credit to her race”. The Sunday Call wrote, “She was interested in many charitable enterprises and was a successful businesswoman.” Harriet was one of the first public school teachers under James Baxter at the Colored School in Newark. She was listed…
-
Helen A Miller
1898-1982 We don’t know too much about Helen A. Miller. She was the sister of Mildred Miller Free and her father James Miller was the “first of his race” to work for the City Water Department. She graduated South Side School in 1917, was on the Honor Roll and was planning to attend the Normal…
-
Helen Pollard Zimmer
1910-1980 Helen Zimmer was corporate secretary (secretary/treasurer) of Fidelity Union Bank from 1964-1975 and previously assistant secretary 1961-1964 and with Fidelity from 1956. Helen was the first woman officer of the bank in Newark and the first woman in Newark to be elected corporate secretary. She said, “I’m waiting for company. There’s plenty of opportunity!”…
-
Hilda Hidalgo
1928-2009 Hilda Hidalgo was a Newark activist. In Newark, she co-founded Aspira of New Jersey, La Casa de Don Pedro and the Puerto Rican Congress and worked with numerous other community organizations. Hilda came to Newark in 1960 and worked as district director for the Girl Scouts, then director of Child Services, until 1970. She…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Ingrid Betancourt
1956- Ingrid Betancourt served in various leadership positions at Newark Public Library including interim director, assistant director, director of Operations, Hispanic Services Coordinator, head of Special Collections and head of Ethnic Services and Collections. She retired recently c. 2024. Born in Puerto Rico, Ingrid arrived at the library in 1980. She helped found La Sala,…
-
Irene E Morris
1900-1953 Irene Morris worked as a registered nurse for the Board of Health for over 25 years. She graduated from Mercy Hospital in Philadelphia with the class of 1922. Irene is listed as a nurse in city directories from 1923 and appointed as a visiting nurse for the Board of Health March 1926, and a…
-
Irene Rutherford O’Crowley
1885-1974 Irene Rutherford O’Crowley was an early woman lawyer, born in Newark. She attended Barringer High School and graduated from NJ Law School 1919 as Vice President of her class. In 1900, the family lived on Lombardy Street and Irene lived there at least through 1920 when she was in law school. Irene was the…
-
Jacqueline “Jackie” Rendleman Jones
c. 1951-2021 Jackie Jones was the first woman firefighter at the Newark Fire Department in 1981, along with Ethel Goldsberry who was later removed. In 1982, she was the only woman firefighter of over 600! She said being the city’s only woman firefighter was “rough in the beginning. I was not used to the men…
-
Jane E. Johnson
c. 1834-Feb 1907 Jane E Johnson was the first principal of the Normal School, for teacher training, in 1879. She started the school with 30 students. She remained with the school for 21 years, later becoming Vice Principal when it merged with the Training School. Jane taught, “psychology, science, history of education, mental philosophy and…
-
Janet Gilchrist Paterson
*Image is Washington Street School Class for the Blind, undated c. 1871-1964 Janet Paterson helped found the first class for the Blind in Newark with Lydia Young Hayes and was the first teacher of the Blind, at Washington Street School in 1910. The NJ Commission for the Blind calls it the first “integrated class” in…
-
Jennie Caputo
1918-1996 Jennie Caputo was a gymnast who competed in the 1936 Olympics with the first US women’s gymnastic team. She won the all-around 1st prize in Olympic tryouts. She said of the Olympics, “Everything was grand, the ship, the people…everything! I didn’t have any trouble during the competition….Would I like to go back for the…
-
Jennie Precker
1892-1981 Jennie Precker founded the nation’s first woman’s bank the Susan B. Anthony Building & Loan Association. It was the first bank in the world whose officers, directors, counsel & staff were all female! It was founded in 1923. The bank was founded at 1186 Raymond Blvd and named after Susan B. Anthony. The bank…
-
Jessie L. Creamer Cone
1880-1965 Jessie L Creamer was one of the founders of the College Women’s Club of Essex County in 1903 and president from 1912-1913. She taught at Belleville High and later is listed as a secretary for an auto service (1920 census). She was honored by the Club in 1960 and 1963. She was also a…
-
Jessie Yearance Cann
1882-1964 Jessie Cann was the first woman to gain a Phd in Chemistry at Columbia.* Jessie was born in Newark to Frank (Newark alderman) and Fanny Cann and was a 1901 graduate of Newark High. She graduated Goucher College and became a science teacher at Belleville High. Her obituary stated she also taught at Newark…