Arthur John Holland
Encyclopedia
Arthur John Holland was Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
and president of the United States Conference of Mayors
.
on October 24, 1918. He was raised Roman Catholic and considered becoming a priest
early in life. Although he studied for the priesthood, he opted against this path and instead attended Saint Francis College
and, after graduation, earned an advanced degree from Rutgers University
. In 1951 Holland became deputy director of public affairs for Trenton, and in 1955 he was elected as a Democrat
to Trenton's City Council. He became Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
in 1959, and soon after married his wife Betty. In 1964 he publicly moved into the Mill Hill neighborhood
of Trenton, a majority black neighborhood, attempting to lead the way in his city's racial integration
. Holland received national attention for the move, much of it negative, but the area thereafter became less racially segregated.
In 1966 Holland lost reelection to Republican
Carmen J. Armenti
, and served as a teacher at Rutgers University
for four years. In 1970 he ran for mayor again, and was reelected. He was president of the United States Conference of Mayors
from 1988 to 1989, and remained mayor of Trenton until his retirement in 1989. Holland died of cancer that same year.
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey:*Tony F. Mack 2010 to present.*Douglas Harold Palmer 1990 to 2010. Douglas Harold Palmer was the first African American mayor of Trenton, New Jersey.*Arthur John Holland 1970 to circa 1990....
and president of the United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors, sometimes referred to as the United States Council of Mayors, is the official non-partisan organization for cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The cities are each represented by their mayor or other chief elected official...
.
Biography
He was born in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
on October 24, 1918. He was raised Roman Catholic and considered becoming a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
early in life. Although he studied for the priesthood, he opted against this path and instead attended Saint Francis College
Saint Francis College
St. Francis College is a private, coeducational college located in Brooklyn Heights, New York, in the United States. It was founded in 1859 by the Franciscan friars as the St. Francis Academy. St...
and, after graduation, earned an advanced degree from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. In 1951 Holland became deputy director of public affairs for Trenton, and in 1955 he was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to Trenton's City Council. He became Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey:*Tony F. Mack 2010 to present.*Douglas Harold Palmer 1990 to 2010. Douglas Harold Palmer was the first African American mayor of Trenton, New Jersey.*Arthur John Holland 1970 to circa 1990....
in 1959, and soon after married his wife Betty. In 1964 he publicly moved into the Mill Hill neighborhood
Mill Hill, Trenton, New Jersey
Mill Hill is a neighborhood in New Jersey's capital city of Trenton, New Jersey.The name Mill Hill refers to central New Jersey's first industrial site, a mill, erected in 1679, at the southeast corner of the present Broad Street crossing of the Assunpink Creek...
of Trenton, a majority black neighborhood, attempting to lead the way in his city's racial integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
. Holland received national attention for the move, much of it negative, but the area thereafter became less racially segregated.
In 1966 Holland lost reelection to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Carmen J. Armenti
Carmen J. Armenti
Carmen J. Armenti was the Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey from 1966 to 1970....
, and served as a teacher at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
for four years. In 1970 he ran for mayor again, and was reelected. He was president of the United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors, sometimes referred to as the United States Council of Mayors, is the official non-partisan organization for cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The cities are each represented by their mayor or other chief elected official...
from 1988 to 1989, and remained mayor of Trenton until his retirement in 1989. Holland died of cancer that same year.