Mildred Barry Garvin
Encyclopedia
Mildred Barry Garvin was an American Democratic Party
politician who served two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
, from 1978 to 1988, representing the 26th Legislative District
until 1982 and the 27th Legislative District
thereafter.
, where she attended DuSable High School
. She enrolled at the University of Illinois and William Paterson State College
. Garvin worked as Director of Special Projects and Internships in the Department of Public Administration at Rutgers University
. She was the first African American on the board of education of the East Orange School District
, eventually serving as the board's president, and was the first African American to serve on the board of directors of the East Orange Public Library.
Garvin won the June 1977 Democratic Party primary for the Assembly from the 26th District together with Richard Codey
after incumbent Eldridge Hawkins
unsuccessfully challenged Frank J. Dodd
for his seat in the New Jersey Senate
. After being elected to the Assembly, Garvin was appointed to serve on the Education Committee, building on her 12 years of service on the East Orange Board of Education. In redistricting following the 1980 United States Census, Garvin was shifted to the 27th District, where she served three terms of office. Garvin challenged Codey in the 1991 Democratic primary for State Senate, losing to the incumbent by a margin of 60.9%-39.1%.
In 1991, she was selected as President of the NAACP of the Oranges
and Maplewood
, which had previously honored her with its Community Service Award. She served as coordinating legislator for the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
and the National Conference of State Legislatures
.
Federation of Democratic Women and the Exemplary State Officials Award from the Morris County Chapter of the Association of Black Educators.
James Florio
issued an executive order recognizing Garvin and ordering that flags of all State departments and offices should be flown at half staff on June 15 and 16 in her memory. The New Jersey Historical Commission
established the Mildred Barry Garvin Prize to honor educators in the state for outstanding teaching of African-American history.
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...
politician who served two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, from 1978 to 1988, representing the 26th Legislative District
26th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 26th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Morris County municipalities of Butler Borough, Chatham Borough, East Hanover Township, Florham Park Borough, Hanover Township, Kinnelon Borough, Lincoln Park Borough, Montville Township, Morris Plains Borough,...
until 1982 and the 27th Legislative District
27th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 27th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Essex County municipalities of Caldwell Township, Essex Fells Township, Fairfield Township, Livingston Township, Maplewood Township, Newark City , North Caldwell Township, Orange Township, Roseland Borough, South Orange...
thereafter.
Biography
Garvin was born on November 29, 1929, in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where she attended DuSable High School
DuSable High School
DuSable High School was a public high school in Chicago opened in the Bronzeville neighborhood in 1934. It was named after Chicago's first permanent non-native settler, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. DuSable was built to accommodate the growing Phillips High School in the 1930s. The campus was...
. She enrolled at the University of Illinois and William Paterson State College
William Paterson University
William Paterson University is a comprehensive public institution located in Wayne, New Jersey serving nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students through five colleges: , , , , and ....
. Garvin worked as Director of Special Projects and Internships in the Department of Public Administration 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...
. She was the first African American on the board of education of the East Orange School District
East Orange School District
East Orange School District is a comprehensive community public school district serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from the city of East Orange, New Jersey...
, eventually serving as the board's president, and was the first African American to serve on the board of directors of the East Orange Public Library.
Garvin won the June 1977 Democratic Party primary for the Assembly from the 26th District together with Richard Codey
Richard Codey
Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...
after incumbent Eldridge Hawkins
Eldridge Hawkins
Eldridge Hawkins was an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1978....
unsuccessfully challenged Frank J. Dodd
Frank J. Dodd
Frank J. "Pat" Dodd was an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate from 1974 to 1975.-Early life:...
for his seat in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
. After being elected to the Assembly, Garvin was appointed to serve on the Education Committee, building on her 12 years of service on the East Orange Board of Education. In redistricting following the 1980 United States Census, Garvin was shifted to the 27th District, where she served three terms of office. Garvin challenged Codey in the 1991 Democratic primary for State Senate, losing to the incumbent by a margin of 60.9%-39.1%.
In 1991, she was selected as President of the NAACP of the Oranges
The Oranges
The Oranges are a group of four municipalities in Essex County, New Jersey, all of which have the word Orange in their name. All of these communities were named for the ruler of England, William III of England, also known as William of Orange...
and Maplewood
Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 23,867.-History:...
, which had previously honored her with its Community Service Award. She served as coordinating legislator for the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
National Black Caucus of State Legislators
The National Black Caucus of State Legislators is an American political organization composed of African Americans elected to the state legislatures in the United States of America and its territories.-Background:...
and the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
.
Honors and awards
She received the State Family Planning Legislator's Recognition Award, the Mary Senatore Award from the Essex CountyEssex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
Federation of Democratic Women and the Exemplary State Officials Award from the Morris County Chapter of the Association of Black Educators.
Legacy
After her death on June 13, 1993, Governor of New JerseyGovernor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
James Florio
James Florio
James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
issued an executive order recognizing Garvin and ordering that flags of all State departments and offices should be flown at half staff on June 15 and 16 in her memory. The New Jersey Historical Commission
New Jersey Historical Commission
The New Jersey Historical Commission is a government agency of the U.S. state of New Jersey that is responsible for "preserving the historical record and advancing interest in and awareness of New Jersey's past."...
established the Mildred Barry Garvin Prize to honor educators in the state for outstanding teaching of African-American history.